New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- Kumar Kushagra has moved from a reliable Jharkhand domestic performer into India's ODI and T20I squads for the series against New Zealand. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Jamshedpur earned his first senior call-ups in October 2026 after a strong run across formats, first as Rishabh Pant's replacement for the New Zealand A four-day matches and then for both limited-overs sides.

Kumar Kushagra was born and raised in Jamshedpur. He learned the game under the guidance of his father, Shashikant Singh, who had no professional playing experience but studied cricket coaching materials extensively and built a concrete pitch at home. The pair focused on technical improvements, including better shot selection against...