New Delhi, Oct 6:
Veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar will captain a star-studded Indian side at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, scheduled to be held from October 30 to November 1.
Bhuvneshwar will be joined by IPL stars Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi and T Natarajan. Except Shashank Singh, all the players have represented India at the international level.
The squad brings together international experience, aggressive batting, all-round ability and specialist pace in one of cricket’s fastest formats. With only six players on the field, the Hong Kong Sixes leaves little room for players to settle and demands an attacking approach from the outset.
Bhuvneshwar brings extensive international and IPL experience and will be expected to make an impact with the new ball. Krunal adds all-round versatility, while Nitish Rana provides aggressive strokeplay. Shashank Singh and Rahul Tewatia offer finishing power, Rahul Tripathi adds attacking intent and Natarajan provides a specialist left-arm pace option.
India will return to the tournament after a mixed campaign in 2025. The side began with a two-run DLS victory over Pakistan but lost its subsequent matches and exited the competition. Pakistan are the defending champions after beating Kuwait in last year’s final to claim their record sixth Hong Kong Sixes title.
The 2026 edition will feature eight major cricketing nations along with four Associate Members. Matches will be played at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground over three days, with the compact six-a-side format expected to produce fast-paced and high-scoring contests.
For Bhuvneshwar, the tournament also marks another opportunity to lead a strong Indian side despite being away from the national team setup. The 36-year-old last played for India in 2022, but his performances in domestic cricket and the IPL have kept him in the spotlight. He has previously said that while he would welcome another opportunity to represent India, his continued cricket is driven primarily by his love for the game.