Shubman Gill, who was the vice-captain of India in Asia Cup 2025, was left out from the T20 World Cup squad following a disappointing run of form
The Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 was announced with Test and ODI skipper of Team India Shubman Gill failing to make it to the 15-member squad while Axar Patel was named Surya Kumar Yadav’s deputy.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan, who had a scintillating campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he guided Jharkhand to the title, was included in the 15-member squad.
Rinku Singh also made a return to the Men in Blue for the T20 world cup after missing out on the series against South Africa which India won 3-1, trouncing the visitors in the fifth and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night by 30 runs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was also left out of the squad which will also face New Zealand prior to the ICC T20I World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
Gill — who was the vice-captain in the team in Asia Cup 2025 — was not included amid a disappointing run of form.
Meanwhile, in Gill’s absence, Sanju Samson is expected to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma.
Team India, the defending champions, have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia.
India will open their campaign against USA at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on February 7, before facing Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12.
The Men in Blue will face arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 before facing Netherlands in their last Group match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18.
Top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super Eights which will begin on February 21.
The Indian squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keepers), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy Washington Sundar.
Also Read : Ishan Kishan Creates History as Jharkhand Win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy With Record-Breaking Final
