Both Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been away from the international level for a while.
Players getting injured ahead of important tournaments is never a good sight for any team, and the Men in Blue are dealing with the same issue. However, Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been added as replacements to the IND vs NZ T20I squad, in place of Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar.
Though the all-rounder from Tamil Nadu was ruled out of the entire series, Tilak Varma has been sidelined for the first three fixtures. As a result, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Shreyas Iyer as a replacement of Tilak Varma for the first three matches.
Washington Sundar underwent scans after sensing some discomfort around his lower rib in the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Vadodara. Later, the scans revealed that the all-rounder has been suffering from side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, after which his recovery phase will begin.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the Indian management will hope that the players recover quickly. Both Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma are key players for the Men in Blue, and with the tournament being played in India, they would need their gun players to be fit.
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Ability wise, he surely can! However, the Indians were pretty used to playing with Tilak Varma in their XI, and will hope for him to recover from injury. That being said, Shreyas Iyer would be itching to get back on the field after the recovery from his injury.
The major point of concern for the Indians would be if Tilak Varma extends his comeback. In that case, they will have to name a replacement in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, which will most likely be Shreyas Iyer.
That being said, Shreyas Iyer is no mug in the shortest format of the game. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper has shown his ability at the highest level in the T20 format, and could be the right fit in India’s middle order.
Moreover, the Indian management will keep a close eye on the performance of Ravi Bishnoi in the series. With the all-rounder from Tamil Nadu out of contention from the New Zealand series, his participation in the mega-tournament hangs in the balance.
Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will also watch Riyan Parag from close quarters. With Washington out, they would need someone with the same ability with the bat. Ravi Bishnoi would surely not provide the same, and that would be a point of concern for the Indians.
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