No Indian comeback but Bhuvneshwar Kumar named captain in Hong Kong Sixes
Bhuvneshwar Kumar may no longer be knocking on India’s comeback door, but the veteran pacer is still very much in the running. The 36-year-old will lead a strong Indian team at the Hong Kong Sixes from October 30 to November 1.
Bhuvneshwar will be joined by his Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate Krunal Pandya along with Nitish Rana, Shashank Singh, T Natarajan, Rahul Tripathi and Rahul Tewatia.
Apart from Shashank, all members of the team represented India, giving the six-player tournament a strong international flavour. But it will be Bhuvneshwar’s presence and his recent form that will attract the most attention.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a fast-paced six-match cricket tournament with a rich history, first held in 1992 and featuring several international stars over the years. After a brief hiatus, it returned in 2024 and has since become a popular fixture on the cricket calendar.
THE INDIAN SQUAD
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (captain)
- Krunal Pandya
- Shashank Singh
- Rahul Tewatia
- Nitska Rana
- Rahul Tripathi
- T.Natarajan
The former Indian seamer has been in excellent form with the white ball this year. He picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches during IPL 2026 and played a key role in RCB’s successful title defence. He was particularly effective in a tournament where batsmen dominated on generally suitable pitches, finishing with an economy rate of 7.95.
Bhuvneshwar carried that form into the UP T20 League in August and September, taking 14 wickets in 11 matches.
His performances inevitably raised questions as to whether another India comeback could be on the cards. But Bhuvneshwar, now 36, he made it clear that he does not allow the prospect of a national team return to dictate his cricket.
“I have played for India before. It’s not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, great, but I’ve been there. Everything I do now is for the love of the game. I know I have to stay disciplined,” he said last month.
This attitude could be particularly useful in Hong Kong Sixes, a format that leaves little room for players to settle into. The tournament calls for attacking cricket and versatility, giving veteran players like Bhuvneshwar little time to ease into the game.
Bhuvneshwar brings considerable international and IPL experience to a team that has a mix of established names and T20 specialists. Krunal offers all-round ability while Rana, Shashank and Tewatia bring strength and finishing ability. Tripathi adds attacking intent and Natarajan provides another special pace option.
India will be back in the tournament after a mixed campaign in 2025. They started with a two-run DLS win over Pakistan before losing their next matches to exit the competition.
Meanwhile, Pakistan entered the 2026 edition as the defending champions after defeating Kuwait in last year’s final to claim a record sixth title.
Bhuvneshwar will take over the captaincy from Dinesh Karthik, who led India in last year’s Hong Kong Sixes. Karthik’s side included former Indian colleagues Robin Uthappa, Stuart Binny, Abhimanyu Mithun, Shahbaz Nadeem, Priyank Panchal and Bharat Chipli. India won their opening match against Pakistan but were eliminated after defeats in the next two games.
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