Hong Kong. Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya will captain the Indian team in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 to be held from October 30 to November 1.
After veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was selected in the Indian team for the New Zealand tour, Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kulwant Khejroliya has been included in the seven-member squad in his place.
The Indian team led by Krunal includes Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T. Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya.
The team has many options for batting and all-round performance with players having Indian Premier League experience. In this fast-paced tournament with six-player format, the Indian team will present a challenge on the strength of these players.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian team is important for his career. After almost four years, he got a place in the national team.
He will miss the Hong Kong Sixers as he has been selected for the tour against New Zealand starting on October 22. In his absence, the responsibility of captaining the team has been handed over to Krunal.
Bhuvneshwar has been included in the Indian team for the five-match T20 International series against New Zealand. Apart from this, after Arshdeep Singh got injured in the fourth T20 International against West Indies, he has also been given a place in the Indian team for the fifth and final T20 match to be held on Saturday.
Anurag Bhatnagar, Commercial and Marketing Director, Cricket Hong Kong, China said, “Bhuvneshwar Kumar will certainly be missed at Hong Kong Sixes 2026, but we are glad he has got the opportunity to return to the national team.
His return to international cricket after four years is a special achievement. We wish him all the best for the New Zealand tour. We hope that he will play for Hong Kong Sixes again in the future.”
Indian squad for Hong Kong Sixes: Krunal Pandya (captain), Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T. Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya.