Bhuvneshwar Kumar is replaced as India’s captain for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with RCB teammate Krunal Pandya named captain for the seven-member squad. The change follows Kumar receiving a call-up for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, which starts on October 22, taking him out of the Sixes tournament schedule.
Multiple outlets report that the captaincy handover is accompanied by a squad adjustment. Kulwant Khejroliya is listed as the player coming into the squad in Kumar’s place, while reports consistently tie the leadership and selection changes to Kumar’s national-team duties for the New Zealand tour. The coverage frames Pandya’s appointment as an IPL-based transition, reflecting the team’s mix of experienced league players as India prepares for the Hong Kong Sixes.
