T20 World Cup 2026 / India's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Announced: Suryakumar to Lead, Ishan Returns, Gill Dropped

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday. The announcement was made at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai in the presence of chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team, while Axar Patel has been named vice-captain.

The biggest surprise was the exclusion of Shubman Gill, who was recently the T20I vice-captain. In his place, Ishan Kishan has been included, riding on his excellent domestic form. Rinku Singh also makes a comeback, while Jitesh Sharma has been left out. Sanju Samson retains his spot as a wicketkeeper.

Indian Squad (T20 World Cup 2026):

• Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)

The team will also play a 5-match home T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026, which will serve as the final preparation before the World Cup.

Agarkar and Surya's Statements on Gill's Exclusion

During the press conference, Ajit Agarkar said regarding Shubman Gill's omission, "Gill is struggling for runs at the moment. We know he is a quality player, but the decision was based on team combination. We needed a wicketkeeper-batsman in the top order, so Sanju and Ishan were selected. Someone has to miss out, but this does not question his ability."

Captain Suryakumar Yadav added, "It's not about form but team combination. We needed options like Rinku and Washington in the middle order. Gill is an outstanding player; there is no doubt about his class."

Why Ishan Kishan Made a Comeback

Ishan Kishan's return to the Indian team was hardly a surprise. He recently led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title with sensational batting. In 10 matches, he scored over 500 runs, hit the most sixes, and scored the most centuries in the tournament. His explosive batting impressed the selectors. In contrast, Gill's form has been a concern — he managed only low scores in the recent T20I series against South Africa.

T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament begins on February 7, 2026, with Pakistan taking on Netherlands in Colombo. On the same day, India will play their opening match against USA at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

The final will be played on March 8, 2026. India is in a group with USA, Namibia, Netherlands, and Pakistan. The high-voltage India-Pakistan clash will take place in Colombo.

India are considered favourites to defend their title. Under Suryakumar's leadership, the squad looks well-balanced — strong batting depth, varied spin options, and a lethal pace attack. The New Zealand series will provide the final finishing touches.