The five-game series against New Zealand, starting in Nagpur on January 21, is India\u2019s last international assignment before their Men\u2019s T20 World Cup title defence starts on February 7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Bishnoi comes as a replacement for the injured off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, Iyer will be there for the first three games due to left-handed batter Tilak Varma, who is recovering from a lower abdomen surgery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWashington Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset of discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 11 January.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury,\u201d said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bishnoi last played for India in a T20I match against England in Mumbai in February 2025. In 42 T20Is, Bishnoi has picked 61 wickets at an economy rate of 7.35. Iyer, meanwhile, last played a T20I for India against Australia at Bengaluru in December 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury,\u201d said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s updated T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi<\/p>\r\n\r\n