Watch: Crowd cheers as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is named in India’s playing XI for 5th T20I vs WI

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted in cheers as Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named in India’s playing XI for the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies. The announcement was made by Shreyas Iyer during the toss, and the Bengaluru crowd warmly welcomed the RCB pacer as he returned to the Indian T20I side after nearly four years.

Bhuvneshwar last played a T20I for India against New Zealand in Napier in 2022, 1,425 days before this match. His inclusion marked his return to the national side after a long gap.

Bhuvneshwar was not part of India’s squad for the series but was brought in as cover after Arshdeep Singh suffered an impact injury while batting in the fourth T20I. However, both pacers were included in the playing XI for the final match. 

Watch the viral video of the crowd cheering for Bhuvneshwar Kumar here.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar named in India’s playing XI for 5th T20I vs WI as crowd roars

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named in India’s playing XI for the fifth T20I against the West Indies, and the crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium welcomed his return with loud cheers. He was added to the squad earlier in the week after Arshdeep Singh suffered an injury and was doubtful for the match.

The series was level at 2-2, making the fifth T20I a decider. However, rain interrupted the match, reducing it to nine overs per side, with a powerplay of 2.4 overs.

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At the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer said, “They’ve got an array of shots in different batsmen, and they’ve been playing solid cricket. They’ve been challenging in tough times, and obviously they’ve been playing power cricket. So we have all these things at the back of our minds, but at the same time we need to think about our strengths as well, the way we’ve been playing for the last couple of months, and it has been sensational.”

India playing XI vs West Indies: Full team list, toss details and key changes

The fifth T20I between India and the West Indies faced a delay of more than two hours due to persistent rain. The match was reduced to nine overs per side, and West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to field first.

The five-match T20I series was level at 2-2, making the final match a winner-takes-all contest. India won the first T20I by eight wickets, with Shreyas Iyer scoring an unbeaten 102. West Indies bounced back in the second match, as Shai Hope also scored an unbeaten 102 to guide his team to a six-wicket win. The remaining matches kept the series competitive, setting up an exciting decider in Bengaluru.

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India made a key change to their playing XI, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to the side after nearly four years. Here is India’s playing XI for the fifth T20I against the West Indies: 

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh.

What Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return means for India’s bowling attack and the series

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return added experience to India’s bowling attack for the fifth T20I against the West Indies. Despite Arshdeep Singh being India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, Bhuvneshwar’s experience played an important role in his return. He also picked the team ball before the match.

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium holds special memories for Bhuvneshwar, as he made his international debut against Pakistan more than a decade ago. His return to the venue marked another important moment in his career, where he has also enjoyed a good record.

For Bhuvneshwar, the series decider offered a chance to return to international cricket after a long absence. Known for his swing bowling and experience in the shortest format, he added another option to India’s attack in the rain-shortened contest. His presence also gave India an experienced bowler for the crucial final match.