Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been added to India’s squad for the fifth T20I against West Indies following Arshdeep Singh’s shoulder injury. (Img: X)
New Delhi: Veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been drafted into India’s squad for the fifth and final T20 International against the West Indies after Arshdeep Singh sustained a shoulder injury during the preceding match. The series decider is scheduled to take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the selection change on Friday, stating that Arshdeep had taken a blow to his bowling shoulder while batting during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The left-arm pacer’s availability for the final match will depend on his recovery, with the team management set to assess his fitness before the game.
Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion marks a significant opportunity for the experienced seamer to return to international cricket after an extended absence. The 36-year-old last represented India in a T20 International in November 2022, against New Zealand.
The BCCI clarified that Bhuvneshwar has been added to the squad as the team awaits an update on Arshdeep’s condition. The board has not confirmed whether the veteran pacer will feature in the playing XI, leaving his participation dependent on the final fitness assessment.
Arshdeep sustained the injury during the fourth match of the series, raising concerns over India’s pace-bowling options ahead of the decisive encounter. His recovery will be closely monitored as India prepare for a match that will determine the outcome of the five-game contest.
The final T20I assumes added significance with the series currently level at 2-2. Both teams will be looking to secure the decider and finish the contest with a series victory.
Bhuvneshwar’s experience could prove valuable if he is selected, particularly given his ability to swing the new ball and execute variations in the closing overs. His potential return also offers India an experienced option in a contest where the margin for error is likely to be small.
Bhuvneshwar has remained outside India’s international setup since November 2022, despite continuing to feature in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. His addition to the squad comes ahead of India’s upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning on October 22, for which he has already been selected.
The Bengaluru fixture could therefore provide an earlier opportunity for the experienced pacer to make an international return, although his place in the playing XI is not yet confirmed.
India’s updated squad comprises Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
