India have made a bold selection move ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, leaving out vice-captain Shubman Gill while recalling Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan to the squad. The defending champions and co-hosts aim to become the first side to win back-to-back T20 World Cups, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team for the first time in an ICC tournament and Axar Patel named as his deputy.
The squad announcement comes after careful consideration of team combinations, with the management prioritizing a wicketkeeper-batter at the top of the order. Kishan, who excelled in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassed 517 runs at a strike rate of nearly 197, and will serve as backup opener and wicketkeeper. Rinku Singh, previously absent from recent T20I squads, adds depth and versatility to India’s middle order.
Gill’s exclusion is not due to poor form alone, but rather strategic planning for multiple batting combinations. Since returning to the T20I setup in September, he scored 291 runs at an average of 24.25, failing to register a half-century in 15 innings at the top. Suryakumar Yadav explained, “It’s just about the combination right now… we need a keeper at the top to give us two-three strong options for the World Cup.”
The rest of the squad remains in expected lines, featuring a power-packed batting order with captain Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson. The pace attack is led by Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Pandya, while the spin department boasts Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakravarthy.
The five-match T20I series against New Zealand will act as a final tune-up for the team ahead of the February 7 start of the tournament. With the squad now finalized, India will aim to combine experience, firepower, and tactical flexibility as they target a historic third T20 World Cup title.
India T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh
