Bhuvneshwar Kumar Named Captain of India’s Hong Kong Sixes Squad

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named captain of India’s squad for the Hong Kong Sixes, giving the experienced fast bowler a return to an India team after a long absence from the country’s senior sides.

The squad for the tournament was announced on Monday (05 October), with Bhuvneshwar included alongside Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Rahul Tewatia and Rahul Tripathi.

The Hong Kong Sixes will begin on 30 October and conclude on 01 November.

Bhuvneshwar returns in a different India setup

Bhuvneshwar’s selection is not a return to the senior India team for regular international cricket.

He has instead been picked for the India team announced for the Hong Kong Sixes, a short-format tournament featuring six players on the field at one time.

Bhuvneshwar last played for India in November 2022.

The report said discussions about his return had continued for a long time before he was named captain of the Hong Kong Sixes squad.

He has been out of India’s white-ball teams since 2022, while he was dropped from the Test team in 2018.

That makes the Hong Kong Sixes selection a significant opportunity for Bhuvneshwar to wear the India jersey again, although it does not by itself confirm a return to the senior national side.

The squad includes several players who have represented India internationally, as well as players known for their performances in the Indian Premier League.

According to the report, Bhuvneshwar, Krunal Pandya, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Rahul Tewatia and Rahul Tripathi have played international cricket for India, while Shashank Singh is the exception among the seven players named.

Seven players named for the tournament

The India squad consists of Bhuvneshwar Kumar as captain, Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Rahul Tewatia and Rahul Tripathi.

Krunal Pandya, who has previously played for India with Bhuvneshwar, has also been included in the squad.

The team combines international experience with players described as IPL stars in the reports announcing the selection.

The format places particular importance on players who can make an impact quickly because batsmen do not have much time to build an innings.

Aaj Tak reported that the selection was designed to bring together international experience and explosive batting for the six-player format.

Bhuvneshwar’s long international and IPL experience is expected to be useful with the new ball, where he can trouble opposing batters early in the innings.

Krunal Pandya offers an all-round option, with the ability to contribute with both bat and ball.

Nitish Rana’s attacking batting is expected to provide speed in the top order.

Shashank Singh and Rahul Tewatia have been identified as players who can make a major impact with limited deliveries in a finishing role.

Rahul Tripathi is known for his attacking batting, according to the report.

Left-arm fast bowler T. Natarajan is expected to add variety to India’s bowling attack.

Tournament begins on 30 October

The Hong Kong Sixes will be played from 30 October to 01 November.

A total of 12 teams will take part in the tournament, with the teams divided into four pools.

Pool A contains Hong Kong China, Australia and England.

Pool B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Scotland.

India, Pakistan and the UAE are in Pool C.

Pool D includes South Africa, Afghanistan and Oman.

The reports also describe the field as consisting of eight major cricketing countries and four associate member countries.

The tournament will be played over three days at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong.

The ground is expected to host a fast-paced form of cricket built around boundaries and sixes, as required by the short format.

The schedule of individual fixtures has not yet been released.

As a result, it is not yet clear when Bhuvneshwar will play his first match in the tournament.

India look to improve on previous campaign

India also participated in the previous Hong Kong Sixes tournament.

The team began that campaign with a two-run DLS victory over Pakistan.

India then lost its subsequent matches and was eliminated from the tournament.

The 2026 team will enter the competition with the aim of producing a better performance.

Pakistan will arrive as the defending champion for the 2026 edition.

Pakistan won the previous final against Kuwait, which was making its debut in the tournament.

That victory gave Pakistan its record sixth Hong Kong Sixes title.

The presence of Pakistan in Pool C means India’s group also includes the defending champion.

The reports do not provide the fixture schedule, so the date of an India-Pakistan match in the group stage is not available.

Selection brings attention to Bhuvneshwar’s record

Bhuvneshwar has played 21 Tests, 121 One-Day Internationals and 87 Twenty20 Internationals for India.

In 37 Test innings, he has taken 63 wickets.

In 120 One-Day International innings, he has claimed 141 wickets.

He has taken 90 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals.

The figures underline the experience Bhuvneshwar brings to a squad that will have limited time to settle into matches.

His selection also comes after a period in which he has remained outside the senior India setup while continuing to press his case through his bowling.

Jagran reported that Bhuvneshwar has continued to stake a claim for a comeback through his bowling performances.

The report also said that he plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and had an important role in helping the team win two titles.

His record and recent IPL experience were cited in the reports as part of the context behind his appointment as captain.

A squad built for quick impact

The structure of the Hong Kong Sixes places a premium on immediate contributions rather than long innings.

With only six players on the field at a time, the format gives batters less time to settle before attempting to score quickly.

That explains the inclusion of players such as Nitish Rana, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia and Rahul Tripathi, who have been described as aggressive or capable of changing a match in a small number of deliveries.

Krunal Pandya gives the team an all-round option, while T. Natarajan provides a left-arm fast-bowling choice.

Bhuvneshwar’s role is linked to his experience and his ability to operate with the new ball.

The combination gives India a squad with a designated captain, several international players and a group of batters selected for the demands of a compressed format.

Cricket Hong Kong, China’s marketing and commercial director Anurag Bhatnagar welcomed the selection of the Indian team.

Bhatnagar said the team had been put together with the support of Indian cricket officials.

He described it as one of the strongest teams in the history of the Hong Kong Sixes and expressed hope that India’s participation would significantly benefit the tournament’s viewership.

For Bhuvneshwar, however, the immediate assignment is clear: lead India in a three-day tournament that begins on 30 October, with the first fixture still to be confirmed.