Veteran all-rounder Krunal Pandya has been appointed captain of India’s squad for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 after Bhuvneshwar Kumar received a recall to the national T20I squad. Bhuvneshwar was originally named captain for the six-a-side tournament, but Krunal will lead the seven-member Indian squad.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to join India for the fifth T20I against the West Indies after Arshdeep Singh suffered a shoulder injury in Hyderabad. The Hong Kong Sixes tournament is scheduled from October 30 to November 1, with 12 teams competing in a fast-paced format in which each side fields six players.
Kulwant Khejroliya Replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India Squad
Gujarat Titans pacer Kulwant Khejroliya will join the Hong Kong Sixes team after Bhuvneshwar Kumar was recalled to India’s T20I squad. Krunal Pandya will take over the captaincy, with Bhuvneshwar unavailable due to his international commitments.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been recalled to India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, starting October 22. The series overlaps with the six-a-side tournament, making it difficult for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to feature in both events.
Krunal Pandya brings considerable experience to the role. He has represented India in five ODIs and 19 T20Is, scoring 254 runs and taking 17 wickets in international cricket. In the IPL, he has played 158 matches, scoring 1,974 runs at a strike rate of 133.84 and taking 107 wickets at an average of 31.87.
The Indian squad also features IPL performers Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi and left-arm pacer T Natarajan. All the selected players are active cricketers, and every member except Shashank has represented India at the senior international level.
India Squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026: Krunal Pandya (captain), Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, T Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya.
🚨 NEWS ALERT 🚨 Bhuvneshwar Kumar will miss the Hong Kong Sixes due to his national team commitments for the T20I series against New Zealand. 🇮🇳 #Cricket #India #Sportskeeda https://t.co/Kbl3Y7An1Q
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) October 17, 2026
🚨 SQUAD UPDATE 🚨 Kulwant Khejroliya is ready to bring the heat as he officially joins the Indian squad for the Hong Kong Sixes. Time to light up the tournament! 🇮🇳🔥 #TurnItUpToSix #HongKongSixes #M品牌活動#大型體育活動事務委員會#政府資助計劃 #MMarkEvents #MajorSportsEventsCommittee
— Cricket Hong Kong, China (@CricketHK) October 17, 2026
Captaincy duties? Checked. Excitement levels? Through the roof! 🔥🇮🇳 Krunal Pandya is all set for Hong Kong Sixes 2026! 🤌 #TurnItUpToSix #HongKongSixes #M品牌活動#大型體育活動事務委員會#政府資助計劃 #MMarkEvents #MajorSportsEventsCommittee https://t.co/Asdza8cra9
— Cricket Hong Kong, China (@CricketHK) October 17, 2026
India Drawn With Pakistan and UAE in Group C
India have been placed in Group C alongside Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and hosts Hong Kong. They will open their campaign against Pakistan on October 30. The 12 participating teams are divided into four groups:
Group A: Australia, England, Oman and Afghanistan
Group B: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Scotland
Group C: India, Pakistan, UAE and Hong Kong
The tournament will take place at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. Indian viewers can watch the event live on the Sony Sports Network.
Hong Kong Sixes Has Featured Several Cricket Legends
The Hong Kong Sixes began in 1992 and has built a reputation for fast-paced, entertaining cricket. With only six players per side, the format demands quick scoring, sharp fielding and effective bowling, making it different from conventional international matches.
Several renowned cricketers have featured in the competition, including Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Shane Warne and Stephen Fleming. Former India players Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik have also represented the country in previous editions.
Pakistan are the tournament’s most successful team, with six titles. England and South Africa have won five each, while Sri Lanka have claimed two. India, Australia and the West Indies have won the competition once each.
Also read: Pakistan announce squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026, IND vs PAK clash set for October 30
