Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been added to India’s squad for the series-deciding fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday as cover for the injured Arshdeep Singh.
The left-arm pacer sustained a shoulder injury while batting during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad and was forced to retire hurt. The Telegraph reported on Friday that his participation was in doubt since the team management was unwilling to risk him before the New Zealand tour, which begins next week.
The interim selection
committee, chaired by Pragyan Ojha, added Bhuvneshwar to the squad as fast-bowling cover.
A BCCI release said, “a decision on his (Arshdeep)
participation is likely to be taken prior to the game, based on his recovery.”
Bhuvneshwar had earlier earned a T20I recall for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, having last played for India in November 2022.
If Bhuvneshwar plays on Saturday, he will be making a comeback of sorts at the venue — the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru — where he made his international debut in December 2012.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel said Bhuvneshwar has been added to the squad, but “nobody is ruled out”.
“All the guys are available…” he said on the eve of the game. “(Arshdeep) is recovering well after the blow he took on the shoulder, so I think he is definitely not ruled out for tomorrow (Saturday), still available. But obviously, (the management) will make a call tomorrow at some stage.”
Bhuvneshwar was in Bengaluru and checked into the Centre of Excellence for a fitness assessment last week. He has since built up his bowling workload in preparation for the New Zealand T20Is.
“Very excited to have (Bhuvneshwar) back in the mix,” Morkel said. “He has obviously done really well here for RCB in the past, and I think his experience will add a lot
of value to a… younger bowling attack.”
Saturday’s T20I remains under rain threat after the practice sessions had to be cancelled following a downpour on Friday evening. The Chinnaswamy, however, boasts of a terrific drainage system and that provides hope, despite a bleak forecast.
The wicket is expected to favour the batters and another high-scoring affair is on the cards. The West Indies, though, have a chance to achieve something no visiting side has managed before — beat India in a T20I series-decider on their home soil.
The match will also mark the return of international cricket to the Chinnaswamy following the tragedy during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations in 2025.
The venue missed out on hosting both the Women’s ODI World Cup last year and the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.