The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made significant adjustments to India's T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, commencing on January 21, 2026. Star batter Shreyas Iyer makes a notable return to the T20I setup, marking his first inclusion since the T20I series against Australia in December 2023, which is a period of over two years. He has been named as a replacement for Tilak Varma, who is unavailable for the first three T20Is after undergoing surgery for an abdominal issue on January 7. Additionally, spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been included in the squad to replace all-rounder Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the entire series. Sundar sustained a side strain while bowling during the first One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand on January 11 and has been advised rest, followed by rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE). Iyer will feature in the first three T20Is, while Bishnoi joins the squad for the entire series. This series is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held the following month in India and Sri Lanka. The changes were officially announced by the BCCI on January 16, 2026, and have been widely reported by credible sports news outlets like ICC, Hindustan Times, India Today, NDTV Sports, and The Indian Express.