India have made a change to their squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies. All-rounder Washington Sundar will miss the series after being withdrawn by the senior selection committee.
The decision has been made with India’s upcoming multi-format tour of New Zealand in mind. The tour will include a two-Test series, making red-ball preparation an important priority for Sundar.
Instead of joining India for the T20Is, Sundar is expected to get valuable red-ball practice with Tamil Nadu during the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season.
The Ranji Trophy season is scheduled to begin on October 11, while India’s first T20I against the West Indies is scheduled for October 6.
Naman Dhir Replaces Washington Sundar
Mumbai Indians star Naman Dhir has been named as Washington Sundar’s replacement in India’s T20I squad.
Dhir recently made his international debut during the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies. His inclusion in the T20I squad gives him another opportunity to establish himself at the international level.
The all-rounder has already attracted attention through his performances in domestic and franchise cricket, and his addition provides India with another option in the squad.
His selection also means that Dhir could potentially make an early transition from making his international debut to becoming part of India’s T20I setup.
India’s Updated T20I Squad vs West Indies
India will play five T20Is against the West Indies following the conclusion of the ongoing ODI series. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain.
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Shivam Dube
- Naman Dhir
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Axar Patel
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prince Yadav
- Mayank Yadav
Why Washington Sundar Will Focus on Red-Ball Cricket
India’s decision to release Sundar is closely connected to the Test series against New Zealand.
The Indian team is scheduled to begin its New Zealand Test series on November 19, with the first match set to take place in Wellington.
For a player such as Sundar, regular red-ball cricket can provide useful preparation ahead of an important Test assignment. His participation in the Ranji Trophy will allow him to spend more time bowling and batting in longer-format conditions.
The move also highlights the importance of domestic cricket in preparing players for international Test matches. Rather than remaining with the T20I squad, Sundar can use the domestic season to build match practice in the format that requires a different approach from T20 cricket.
India Also Make a Change to the ODI Squad
India have made another squad change ahead of the third ODI against the West Indies.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna will miss the match after suffering a left hamstring injury during the second ODI. Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj has been called up as his replacement.
Kamboj was previously involved with India A during their ongoing four-day match against Australia A in Puducherry. He was withdrawn from that fixture and will travel to New Chandigarh to join the Indian ODI squad.
The third ODI will be played on Saturday, October 3, in New Chandigarh. India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India’s Squad for the Third ODI
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- KL Rahul (Vice-Captain, Wicketkeeper)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Naman Dhir
- Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Gurnoor Brar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Auqib Nabi
- Anshul Kamboj
What Naman Dhir’s Selection Means
Naman Dhir’s inclusion gives the Mumbai Indians star an immediate opportunity to continue his international journey after making his ODI debut.
His presence in both the ODI and T20I squads underlines the selectors’ interest in developing him across formats. The upcoming T20I series could give Dhir another platform to demonstrate his skills and adapt to international cricket.
At the same time, India have retained several established options in the T20I squad, including Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson.
The combination provides captain Shreyas Iyer with multiple options in batting, bowling and all-rounder roles during the five-match series.
India’s Busy International Schedule Continues
The squad changes come during a particularly busy period for Indian Cricket.
India are currently completing their ODI series against the West Indies before moving into the five-match T20I series. The team will then have the New Zealand assignment on the horizon, including two Tests.
Managing player workloads will therefore remain an important part of India’s planning. Sundar’s release for Ranji Trophy cricket is one example of how the selectors are balancing immediate limited-overs commitments with longer-term Test preparation.
Final Thoughts
Washington Sundar’s absence is the major change to India’s T20I squad for the West Indies series, but Naman Dhir’s inclusion provides an opportunity for another young player to strengthen his international credentials.
India will also enter the third ODI with Anshul Kamboj replacing the injured Prasidh Krishna, while the team already holds a 2-0 series lead.
With the T20I series beginning on October 6 and the New Zealand Test series scheduled for November, India’s squad decisions reflect the challenge of managing players across different formats during a packed international schedule.
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