BCCI just confirmed Shreyas Iyer rejoins the T20I squad on Friday. He’s been missing from India’s T20I setup for 25 months straight now. It feels like ages since we saw him in the blue jersey!
Tilak Varma hurt himself playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last week. Nobody wanted this injury to happen obviously. But now, Shreyas Iyer gets another shot at proving himself in 2026.
He’s already the ODI vice-captain for India these days. Bringing that experience into the squad could change things big time. The middle order desperately needs someone who doesn’t panic under scoreboard pressure.
Shreyas Iyer’s T20I Journey
December 2023 was Shreyas Iyer’s last T20I appearance for India. Australia visited Bengaluru for that match. He smashed 53 runs off just 37 deliveries that night. The team chased down the target by 6 wickets quite easily.
Check out Shreyas Iyer career stats across 51 games total. Shreyas has piled up 1,104 runs playing for the country. 8 fifties sit next to his name in record books. His top score reached 67 which isn’t bad really.
Selectors obviously rate him highly for tight matches in 2026. They reckon Shreyas still has what it takes for quick cricket. Plus, his captaincy experience with different franchises helps the team vibe.
Squad Changes and Series Schedule
Washington Sundar won’t be playing this series either now. A rib injury forced him out after the first ODI in Vadodara. He actually bowled 5 overs that day before the pain became too much.
Ravi Bishnoi steps into the India T20I squad in Sundar’s place. His leg-spin adds something different to the bowling options available. Batsmen hate facing Bishnoi on those flat Indian wickets honestly.
Five T20I matches start rolling from January 21 in Nagpur at 7:00 PM. Raipur gets the second game on January 23 in the same evening time. Then, Guwahati welcomes both teams on January 25 for match three in 2026.
T20 World Cup Implications
The T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7 for India. This New Zealand series becomes crucial preparation time before that tournament. Shreyas could cement his spot with strong performances here.
If Tilak doesn’t recover fully, Shreyas Iyer might replace him permanently. The World Cup squad selection depends heavily on these upcoming matches. Every innings counts double for returning players right now!
