India vs West Indies 5th T20I predicted XI: RCB star Bhuvneshwar Kumar added to squad, could play at Bengaluru originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- India and West Indies are level at 2-2 ahead of the fifth T20I, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been added to India's squad after Arshdeep Singh was hit on the shoulder while bowling.
- The BCCI will decide on Arshdeep's participation before the match in Bengaluru, based on his recovery.
- India are expected to keep the same XI from the third and fourth T20Is, with Bhuvneshwar replacing Arshdeep.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar joins India squad as Arshdeep Singh's injury clouds series decider
India and West Indies are level at 2-2 after West Indies won the fourth T20I in Hyderabad by 24 runs. Shai Hope scored 102 off 50 balls, and Keemo Paul took five wickets in that match. The series will now be decided at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
But before India even gets to that game, they already suffered a massive blow. Arshdeep Singh is a doubt for the decider after being hit on his bowling shoulder by a Shamar Joseph delivery during the final over of India's chase in Hyderabad. He left the field in pain, and his retirement ended India's innings on 223 in 19.4 overs.
The BCCI has added Bhuvneshwar Kumar to India's squad as cover for Arshdeep. Bhuvneshwar plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the franchise based at the Chinnaswamy, and took 28 wickets for them in IPL 2026. He could replace Arshdeep in India's XI if the pace bowler does not recover in time.
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India predicted XI for the fifth T20I against the West Indies
The BCCI confirmed the addition in a statement. The board said, "The Men's Selection Committee has added Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the India squad for the fifth Muthoot FinCorp T20I against the West Indies." The statement said he was added after Arshdeep sustained a blow to his bowling shoulder in the fourth T20I.
🚨 News 🚨
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 16, 2026
Arshdeep Singh sustains blow to bowling shoulder; Bhuvneshwar Kumar added to #TeamIndia’s squad for the Bengaluru T20I.
More Details ▶️ https://t.co/i18NeqDLrU#INDvWI | @mflone_
India used the same XI in Indore and Hyderabad. It was Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav and Arshdeep. This prediction keeps that group and swaps in Bhuvneshwar for Arshdeep.
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Ishan Kishan
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Naman Dhir
- Mayank Yadav
- Prince Yadav
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The swap is a like-for-like one. Bhuvneshwar is a new-ball bowler, and he took 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 at an economy of 7.95. Arshdeep has taken five wickets in the series so far, including three in the third T20I.
The BCCI has not ruled Arshdeep out. Its statement said, "A decision on his participation for the final T20I will be taken prior to the game based on his recovery." If he is declared fit, he is likely to keep his place, and Bhuvneshwar will stay in reserve.
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return and India's other options
India has few reasons to change the rest of the team. They won in Indore after replacing Shivam Dube with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav with Prince Yadav.
In Hyderabad, the same XI fell 24 runs short while chasing 248, with Samson scoring 56 off 23 balls. Kuldeep is the most likely change if India want a second spinner.
He took 2/33 and 1/53 in the first two matches, and he missed the last two partly because dew makes the ball difficult to grip. Bengaluru is expected to have dew on Saturday, with humidity forecast near 85 per cent. Bhuvneshwar is 36 and last played a T20I for India in November 2022, against New Zealand in Napier.
With 90 wickets in 87 T20Is, he has also been picked for the New Zealand T20I series that starts on October 22. India's attack needs support after Hyderabad.
Axar Patel took 1/45, and Mayank Yadav went for 52 without a wicket, as the West Indies made 247/3. Bhuvneshwar adds control with the new ball, which matters on a ground with short boundaries.
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