Krunal Pandya has been appointed captain of India’s seven-member squad for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, taking over the leadership role from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was initially selected to captain the team.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s withdrawal from the Hong Kong Sixes was necessitated by his recent recall to the Indian national squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, scheduled to begin on October 22. This marks a significant milestone for the veteran pacer, as it represents his first inclusion in the national team setup in four years. The tournament is set to take place from October 30 to November 1, making his participation impossible.
To fill the vacancy left by Bhuvneshwar, Gujarat Titans pacer Kulwant Khejroliya has been named as his replacement in the updated squad. Notably, both Pandya and Bhuvneshwar are teammates at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, adding an interesting dynamic to the captaincy transition.
What led to Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence from the Hong Kong Sixes 2026?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was originally announced as India’s captain for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026. However, his selection in India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, which begins on October 22, ruled him out of the event. The tournament starts on October 30, over a week after the New Zealand series commences.
“While we will certainly miss Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, we are delighted to see him earn a call-up to the national team. His return to international cricket after four years is a special milestone, and we wish him every success on India’s tour of New Zealand. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Hong Kong Sixes in the future,” Anuraag Bhatnagar, Director of Commercial & Marketing, Cricket Hong Kong, China, was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Who replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the squad?
Garvit Kale, who represents Gujarat Titans in the IPL, has been included as Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s replacement in India’s Hong Kong Sixes 2026 squad. His addition maintains the team’s pace bowling strength under Pandya’s captaincy.
The revised seven-member squad features players from multiple IPL franchises, including Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The selection aligns with the tournament’s six-a-side format, emphasizing a balanced combination of batting and bowling capabilities.
Full India squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026
Krunal Pandya (Captain, RCB), Shashank Singh (PBKS), Rahul Tewatia (GT), Nitish Rana (DC), Rahul Tripathi (KKR), T. Natarajan (SRH), Kulwant Khejroliya (GT)