Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the Indian squad at the Hong Kong Sixes from October 30 to November 1. The 36-year-old pacer said, "Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game." He joins Krunal Pandya and other stars in this fast-paced tournament, showing his continued passion for cricket.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar may not be knocking on the door for an India return anymore, but the veteran pacer is still very much in the thick of things. The 36-year-old will lead a strong Indian squad 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.
Except Shashank, all members of the squad have represented India, giving the six-a-side tournament a strong international flavour. But it is Bhuvneshwar's presence, and his recent form, that will draw the most attention.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a fast-paced six-a-side cricket tournament with a rich history, first held in 1992, and has featured 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.
INDIA SQUAD
* Bhuvneshwar Kumar (captain)
* Krunal Pandya
* Shashank Singh
* Rahul Tewatia
* Nitish Rana
* Rahul Tripathi
* T. Natarajan
The former India seamer has been in excellent white-ball form this year. He picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches during IPL 2026, playing a key role in RCB's successful title defence. He was particularly effective in a tournament where batters dominated on generally conducive pitches, finishing with an economy rate of 7.95.
Bhuvneshwar carried that form into the UP T20 League in August and September, claiming 14 wickets in 11 matches.
His performances have inevitably raised questions about whether another India comeback could be on the cards. But Bhuvneshwar, now 36, has made it clear that he is not allowing the prospect of a national-team return to dictate his cricket.
"I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, that's great, but I've been there. Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game. I know I have to stay disciplined," he said last month.
That attitude could be particularly useful in the Hong Kong Sixes, a format that leaves little room for players to settle in. With only six players on the field, the tournament demands attacking cricket and versatility, while giving experienced players like Bhuvneshwar little time to ease into a game.
Bhuvneshwar brings considerable international and IPL experience to a squad that has a mix of established names and T20 specialists. Krunal offers all-round ability, while Rana, Shashank and Tewatia bring power and finishing skills. Tripathi adds attacking intent and Natarajan provides another specialist pace option.
India will return to the tournament after a mixed campaign in 2025. They opened with a two-run DLS win over Pakistan before losing their next matches and exiting the competition.
Pakistan, meanwhile, enter the 2026 edition as defending champions after beating Kuwait in last year's final to win a record sixth title.
Bhuvneshwar will take over the captaincy from Dinesh Karthik, who led India at last year's Hong Kong Sixes. Karthik's side featured fellow former India internationals Robin Uthappa, Stuart Binny, Abhimanyu Mithun, Shahbaz Nadeem, Priyank Panchal and Bharat Chipli. India won their opening match against Pakistan but were knocked out after defeats in their next two games.