Bengaluru, Oct 17:
Veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been added to India’s squad for the fifth and final T20 international against the West Indies as cover for left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who sustained a shoulder injury during the previous match.
The series is locked at 2-2, setting up a decisive contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion provides India with an experienced pace option ahead of the series finale.
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Arshdeep sustained a blow to his bowling shoulder during the fourth T20I against the West Indies in Hyderabad on Wednesday. His participation in the final match was to be assessed closer to the game, depending on his recovery.
Bhuvneshwar, 36, was already selected for India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which begins in Christchurch on October 22. His addition to the West Indies squad could bring forward his return to international cricket.
The right-arm seamer last played a T20 international against New Zealand in Napier on November 22, 2022. His possible return at Bengaluru would be particularly notable because it is the same venue where he made his T20I debut against Pakistan in 2012.
Bhuvneshwar made an immediate impact on his international debut, recording figures of three wickets for nine runs in four overs. Since then, he has built a reputation for his ability to swing the new ball and use variations effectively in the shorter format.
His performances in the Indian Premier League have helped revive his international prospects. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2025 and 2026 editions, he took 45 wickets across 30 matches, demonstrating his ability to remain effective in different phases of an innings.