Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead India at the upcoming Hong Kong Sixes, giving the veteran pacer another opportunity to represent the country in a competitive international tournament. The six-a-side competition will take place from October 30 to November 1, with India naming a squad featuring several experienced T20 players.
Bhuvneshwar, who last played for India in 2022, will captain a seven-member squad that includes Krunal Pandya, Nitish Rana, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Rahul Tripathi and T. Natarajan.
India Squad for Hong Kong Sixes
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar — Captain
- Krunal Pandya
- Shashank Singh
- Rahul Tewatia
- Nitish Rana
- Rahul Tripathi
- T. Natarajan
Apart from Shashank Singh, all members of the squad have previously represented India at the international level.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a fast-paced six-a-side format that has featured several international stars since its launch in 1992. After a period away from the cricket calendar, the tournament returned in 2024.
Bhuvneshwar's Strong White-Ball Form
The captaincy call comes after an impressive season for the experienced pacer. Bhuvneshwar picked up 28 wickets in 16 IPL 2026 matches, playing an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's successful title defence.
He finished the tournament with an economy rate of 7.95, an impressive figure considering the generally batter-friendly conditions.
His form continued in the UP T20 League, where he claimed 14 wickets in 11 matches during August and September.
Those performances naturally led to questions about whether Bhuvneshwar could return to the Indian national team. However, the 36-year-old has previously indicated that he is not actively chasing another India comeback and is instead focused on continuing to play the game he loves.
India Looking to Improve on 2025 Campaign
India had a mixed campaign at the 2025 Hong Kong Sixes. The team began with a two-run DLS victory over Pakistan but lost its next two matches and was eliminated.
Pakistan enter the 2026 tournament as defending champions after beating Kuwait in last year's final to claim their sixth title.
Bhuvneshwar will take over the captaincy from Dinesh Karthik, who led India's side in the previous edition. With his experience, recent form and ability to adapt quickly, the veteran pacer will be one of the key players to watch when India return to the six-a-side tournament.
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