India names Krunal Pandya as captain for the Hong Kong Sixes (Oct 30‑Nov 1) while Bhuvneshwar Kumar earns a national call‑up.
Pandya, a former IPL all‑rounder, will skipper a side stacked with IPL talent—Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya. The Gujarat Titans pacer replaces Bhuvneshwar in the squad, as the bowler’s spot was vacated by his national team call‑up for the New Zealand tour.
Bhuvneshwar’s return to the T20I set‑up after a four‑year hiatus is a milestone; he was named for the five‑match series against New Zealand and as cover for the final T20I against the West Indies. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Director of Commercial and Marketing at Cricket Hong Kong, China, said the organisers would miss Bhuvneshwar but welcomed his return, hoping he’ll shine on the international stage.
With the tournament scheduled over a single weekend, India’s 7‑man lineup faces a tight schedule and high‑tempo matches. Pandya’s experience in high‑pressure games will be key to steering the side through the fast‑paced format, where every ball counts.
The move underscores India’s focus on building depth in the Sixes format, while Bhuvneshwar’s elevation signals confidence in his pacemen for the New Zealand tour. India will next face Hong Kong’s top seed in the group stage on Nov 1, a match that could set the tone for the rest of the tournament.