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Krunal Pandya to lead India at Hong Kong Sixes after Bhuvneshwar's recall
The all-rounder takes over the captaincy for the six-a-side tournament from 30 October to 1 November, and Gujarat Titans seamer Kulwant Khejroliya fills Bhuvneshwar Kumar's place in the squad.
Key points
- Krunal Pandya will captain India at the Hong Kong Sixes, from 30 October to 1 November.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar was pulled out after his recall to the India side.
- Gujarat Titans pacer Kulwant Khejroliya joins a seven-man squad that includes T Natarajan and Rahul Tewatia.
Krunal Pandya will captain India at the Hong Kong Sixes later this month, taking over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose recall to the national side has ruled him out of the six-a-side tournament.
The event runs from 30 October to 1 November. Gujarat Titans seamer Kulwant Khejroliya replaces Bhuvneshwar in the seven-man squad.
Bhuvneshwar, 36, was added to India’s T20I squad on Friday for the series decider against West Indies in Bengaluru, and India’s tour of New Zealand starts on 22 October with the first of five T20Is in Christchurch. That leaves no room in his calendar for a trip to Hong Kong at the end of the month.
Anuraag Bhatnagar of Cricket Hong Kong welcomed the recall. “While we will certainly miss Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026,” he said, the seamer’s return to the India side after four years was “a special milestone”.
The squad
Krunal, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, leads a seven-man squad drawn from six different franchises. The batting includes Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings), Rahul Tewatia (Gujarat Titans), Nitish Rana (Delhi Capitals) and Rahul Tripathi (Kolkata Knight Riders). T Natarajan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Khejroliya are the specialist seamers.
India squad: Krunal Pandya (captain), Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T Natarajan, Kulwant Khejroliya.