3 India gamers whose T20I careers are in danger after NZ vs IND 2026 sequence ft. Shivam Dube

India wrapped up the T20I series against New Zealand with a seven-wicket loss in Hamilton, but walked away with a victorious 3-2 scoreline. The back-to-back five-match T20I series, having recently faced West Indies at home last month, has shown several indications in terms of the direction that the team wants to head towards.

The complete integration of new talent like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir, along with the likes of Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav, marks a massive shift in direction, as these players were not involved in the back-to-back T20 World Cup wins.

With the next edition of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand roughly two years away, the team management has some crucial decisions to make regarding some personnel, especially since there is plenty of time to integrate new names into the setup under Shreyas Iyer.

The recent team selection and the demands of the side could result in some key players being phased out of the side gradually, as they might not be in the long-term scheme of things. On that note, let us take a look at the three players whose T20I careers are at risk after the NZ vs IND 2026 series.

#1 Shivam Dube

The experienced all-rounder has been a key utility player for India over the years, but the fact that he was in the squad for the New Zealand tour and never took the field is a huge indication of how the team wants to move forward.

A massive factor behind the shift is fellow pace bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s evolution. Capable of bowling seam and batting in the top six, the youngster recently dismissed Tim Seifert for 93 in Hamilton, and was the most economical bowler as New Zealand chased down 192 in 18 overs. With another new all-rounder in Naman Dhir making an instant impression, Shivam Dube has had no option but to wait on the sidelines.

With Nitish Kumar Reddy capable of bowling his four-over quota compared to Shivam Dube, who at best can chip some overs in, India might be leaning towards the youngster going forward. The difference in their bowling pace and recent performances also has a huge say, leaving the senior all-rounder much behind in the pecking order, especially after Hardik Pandya recovers from injury.

Apart from skillset and competing with younger names, Shivam Dube also does not have much to stand on in terms of pure numbers. In his last 10 T20I innings, he has scored only 100 runs at an average of 12.50 and a strike rate of 108.69.

Shivam Dube is currently 33 years old and will turn 35 by the next World Cup, meaning that this is a crucial juncture for him. The team management can also continue to back him because of the wealth of experience and potential impact that he brings.

However, considering his age, the plan for the World Cup, and other emerging all-rounders in the pipeline, he might not have a lot of rope remaining to hang on.

#2 Varun Chakravarthy

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is yet another candidate who is at a crossroads. He was left out of the first four matches against New Zealand as India went with an unorthodox combination that did not feature a single frontline spinner.

He returned to the playing XI after an injury layoff in the fifth T20I at Seddon Park and ended with poor figures of 1 for 45 in the seven-wicket defeat. Just six months earlier, he had gone into the 2026 World Cup as the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler and finished it as the joint-leading wicket-taker with Jasprit Bumrah.

The numbers have gone downhill since then, especially through the midway stage of the competition. In the last five matches of that World Cup, he took five wickets and went at 11.84 an over, including 64 off four overs in the semifinal against England at the Wankhede.

Across 22 T20 outings since the tournament, he has taken 26 wickets at 27.65 with an economy of 9.10. On top of that, he has had his fair share of injuries as well. He suffered injuries in IPL 2026, the tour of England, and the T20I series against Afghanistan, which worsens the case he is trying to present as the team’s first-choice spinner.

Varun Chakravarthy is currently 35 years old, and although he does not have intense competition for his spot, India has candidates to replace him in the long run. Although Kuldeep Yadav was also in this squad and did not get a game, and Ravi Bishnoi was not picked for the tour at all, they could be in contention moving forward while the spin all-rounders continue to make a very strong impression.

#3 Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar, on the other hand, was not left out of the playing XI in New Zealand; he was left out of the squad. The selectors and team management want the off-spinning all-rounder to concentrate on the longer format, so he played India A’s red-ball matches in New Zealand instead.

It was the second T20I assignment he had missed by design, having earlier been withdrawn from the West Indies T20Is to prepare for the Test series. Missing back-to-back T20I series for another format highly suggests that he might not be in the short-format plans anymore.

In Naman Dhir, the team management has found a modern-day T20 all-rounder, who provides impact with the bat and a few overs with the ball. Axar Patel was India’s frontline spin all-rounder through the New Zealand series. Although Washington Sundar has time on his side, he will need a full revamp to be part of India’s long-term T20I plans.

The sheer difference between what Naman Dhir has shown so far and what Washington Sundar used to bring to the table is a massive factor that needs to be taken into account. The newcomer, in his first nine matches, has scored 176 runs at a strike rate of 214.63 and taken five wickets. Sundar, on the other hand, in his last nine innings, scored 126 runs at a strike rate of 127.27 and took eight wickets.

Edited by Gokul Nair