Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a triumphant return to the Indian cricket team during the series finale against the West Indies, and the excitement was palpable at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. The crowd shared their delight when Shreyas Iyer announced changes to the Indian lineup for the nine-over match, with the 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar stepping in to replace Mayank Yadav.
This match marked Bhuvneshwar’s first appearance in the Indian XI in any format after a hiatus of 1,425 days. His comeback comes after two remarkable seasons with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he played a crucial role in leading the team to back-to-back IPL titles.
Before the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared an update on social media about the Indian Playing XI. Due to illness, Nitish Kumar Reddy was unavailable for this fifth T20I against the West Indies.
In recent IPL seasons, Bhuvneshwar has been a key player, taking 45 wickets, with an impressive 2026 season where he captured 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.95, showcasing his valuable experience.
Originally, Bhuvneshwar was set to play in the T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, but he was called up as a last-minute replacement when Arshdeep Singh was injured during the fourth T20I.
There were concerns about whether the match would take place, as rain delayed the game for nearly two hours. Fortunately, the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s effective drainage system saved the day, allowing for a condensed nine-over match.
In addition to Bhuvneshwar’s return, India brought Shivam Dube into the lineup to replace the ill Nitish Kumar Reddy. On the other hand, the West Indies opted to maintain their squad following a convincing victory in Hyderabad.
Teams for the 5th T20I:
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
West Indies: Shai Hope (wicketkeeper/captain), Jewel Andrew, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Shamar Springer, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
- End –
