BCCI announces changes to India's squad for Asian Games: Varun Chakravarthy and Nitish Kumar Reddy excluded/included

India has taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. The third and final match is scheduled for September 17 (Thursday) at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Following the securing of victory in the series, the probability of changes in the Indian team's squad increases.

15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi was not in India's starting lineup in the first two T20 matches. In the first match, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma batted at the top order, and the Indian team retained the same starting six in the second match.

After the game, Shreyas Iyer stated that the team aims to give all players an opportunity to adapt to the field and conditions, as well as gain experience from practice matches. Therefore, there is a possibility of giving a chance to players who have been outside the squad so far, and some changes in the team combination may also occur.

Thus, the path is open for 'Baby Boss' to get a chance to play in the third T20 match. Previously, Vaivava demonstrated excellent performance in the T20 series against Zimbabwe, winning the 'Player of the Series' title with 151 runs. Despite this, he had to remain on the bench in the first two matches against Afghanistan.

Now all attention is focused on the match on September 17. If the team management decides to make changes, Vaivava may get his first chance to play an international T20 match in India.

Currently, Vaivava has scored 193 runs in 6 matches for India, with an average strike rate of 189.21, including two half-centuries. In these six games, Vaivava hit 16 fours and 14 sixes.

Ishan Kishan, who once had the potential to feature in the Indian national team across all formats, suddenly found himself away from the squad. This player, considered the future big batsman and wicketkeeper of Indian cricket, went through a difficult period that cast doubt on his career. He lost his central BCCI contract, stepped away from the Indian team, and for almost two years, his path in international cricket was closed. However, it was during this tough time that Ishan began rebuilding himself.

This process of transformation did not start with successful strokes, but with accepting the role of captain in Jharkhand. Now 28-year-old Ishan Kishan played a historic innings of 270 runs in the Duleep Cup final in Chennai, and this is not just a big innings. It is the story of a player who emerged from the most difficult period of his life, changing both his playing style and his mindset.

By mid-2023, Ishan's career was heading in a completely different direction. After his Test debut during the tour of South Africa, he established himself among India's multi-format players. But after only a few months, circumstances changed. During the tour of South Africa, he left the test training camp. Following this, he did not play as expected by the BCCI regarding domestic cricket. This affected his career: he fell out of the Indian team's plans and lost his central contract.

The player, who seemed part of the future of Indian cricket just a few months ago, suddenly found himself far from the national team. It was here that Ishan began searching for a way back.

Upon returning to domestic cricket, he took on the role of captain of Jharkhand. This became a turning point in his career. According to Ishan, captaincy taught him about responsibility. Now he needed to think not only about his own game but also monitor the condition of every player on the field, understand their needs, and see how the entire team could improve its game.

After the 270-run innings in the Duleep Cup, Ishan noted that captaincy significantly changed him as a person, as a cricketer, and as a leader. He even stated that captaincy distanced him from his 'wild child' days.

Ishan admitted that previously, as a young player, his thinking was different. Back then, senior players on the team scored runs, and others tried to help them. But now, being part of the established players of the team, he feels that the main responsibility for increasing the team's score rests on him. In other words, his mindset has changed. For Ishan, it is no longer just about how many runs he scores; he also started considering what value his innings brings to the team.

Captaincy also taught him that developing the other players on the team is the captain's duty. According to Ishan, players often come to practice, play, and leave. But after becoming captain, his focus shifted to where his teammates could improve and how he could help them do so. His thought was clear: if every player on the team gets better, achieving the team's goals becomes easier.

Under the captain's guidance, Ishan's performance in domestic cricket consistently grew. In the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, he scored a hundred. Then the Jharkhand team won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, where Ishan played a key role, scoring 517 runs. During this period, he also scored two centuries. It was this performance that opened the doors for him into the Indian national team. First, he returned to the T20 International squad, and then, thanks to consistent performances in the IPL, secured a place in the ODI squad as well.

The player, who almost disappeared from Indian cricket about two years ago, has gradually returned to the national team lineup.

The 270-run innings in the Duleep Cup final was the best example of these changes. Ishan's natural playing style is aggressive; he is known for attacking bowlers. However, in Chennai, he demonstrated not only aggression but also situational awareness. The team chose to chase a big score, winning the toss. Under such conditions, Ishan controlled his shot selection and remained on the field for a long time. He admitted that he could have played an aggressive shot in many instances, but the priority was fulfilling the team's objective.

This distinguishes his old and new playing styles. Previously, Ishan's game was more about 'how big a score can I make'; now, the question 'what value will my innings bring to the team' has been added to this.

What the distance from the Indian team taught him was solidified by captaincy. Ishan's return is special because it is not just a return to form. He lost his spot in the Indian team during a period when his career was rapidly rising, and he lost his BCCI contract. He returned to domestic cricket...

The most crucial phase of the Indian team's visit to New Zealand will begin in November. During this tour, the Indian team will play two Test matches, and the team management has started preparations for this series.

According to reports, the BCCI and the team management have prepared a shortlist of fast bowlers, taking into account the conditions in New Zealand. This list includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurunoor Barar, and Akash Dip.

However, the absence of two names is causing the most resonance. Experienced Mohammad Shammi, as well as the fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, Akib Nabi, are not yet featured in the selection committee's plans.

Overall, in New Zealand, the Indian team is scheduled to play five T20 matches, five ODI matches, and two Test matches. The T20 series will first take place from October 22 to November 1, followed by the ODI series from November 4 to 15, and the two Test matches are planned for November 19 and 27.

There has long been speculation surrounding Mohammad Shammi's possible return to the Test squad. Nevertheless, the information that has emerged regarding the upcoming series against New Zealand is not good news for Shammi.

Shammi possesses rich experience in Test matches, having taken 229 wickets in 64 matches for India. His statistics in New Zealand are also commendable, where he took 15 wickets in four Test matches played. However, according to media reports, the experienced fast bowler is currently not in the team management's plans. This means that instead of relying on Shammi's experience in New Zealand's conditions, characterized by bounce and swing, the management is ready to promote other options.

In addition to Shammi, the name Akib Nabi is also absent from this shortlist. This fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir demonstrated outstanding performance in domestic cricket. He was named the best bowler in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 tournament. Following these successes, he was given the opportunity to be included in the Indian Test squad before the series against Sri Lanka last month. However, he failed to make the starting lineup during that series. It has now become known that his name is also missing from the initial plan for the visit to New Zealand, which increases the uncertainty surrounding his future. Notably, just a few days ago, an PTI report stated that Nabi plans to play in the County Championship as preparation for the upcoming series in New Zealand. Thus, the question arises whether he will be able to secure a spot in the squad for the New Zealand tour, or if his wait will be prolonged according to the current BCCI plan.

The role of fast bowlers will be extremely important in New Zealand's conditions. In this regard, the first pair selected by the team management are Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. Bumrah is considered the team's main strike weapon, while Siraj has long been a consistent fast bowler in the Test squad. Prasidh Krishna is also included among them. Prasidh has the ability to achieve good bounce, and New Zealand's conditions may prove beneficial for him.

The most interesting name on the shortlist is Gurunoor Barar. Barar attracted the attention of the team management due to his performance in India A and in domestic cricket. Despite not yet having made his Test debut, his inclusion in the potential list of five fast bowlers clearly shows that the management wants to prepare future options.

Akash Dip is also among these five fast bowlers, but he faces fitness issues as he is currently on leave due to injury. Questions also arise regarding Bumrah's physical condition, and Akash Dip is also battling injuries.

How important is this tour in New Zealand? The Indian visit to New Zealand will run from October 22 to December 1. During this time, five T20 International matches, five ODI matches, and two Test matches will be played between the two teams. Although the most critical part of the visit for India is the Test series, these two matches hold immense significance for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. The goal of the Indian team is to secure one of the top two spots in the current WTC cycle to qualify for the WTC final, which will be held at The Oval in 2027. Consequently, the result of the two Test matches against New Zealand could significantly influence India's future path.