Published: Dec 20, 2025, 02:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2025, 02:52 PM (IST)
India on Saturday announced their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following a selection meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar spoke to the media after the announcement, explaining key selection decisions.
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (WK)
Ishan Kishan has been named as a another wicketkeeper batter in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20 series, marking his return to the national setup.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill has been excluded from India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20 series. The selectors opted to go with other top-order options as Gill misses out on the global tournament despite being part of the leadership group in recent South Africa series.
Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports, “I’ll give Agarkar and selection 10 out of 10. This is not the end of the road (for Gill). This is a situation where combination has been seen first. I’m so happy that Rinku is there in the team, and with him Ishan Kishan is returning. He could be the possible player in the reckoning, we were looking at them in standby but they get the chance. They’re in form, you can’t take Jitesh when you need someone at 7-8. If a quality player like Shubman is not there, you need a power-packed player and a wicketkeeper at the top of the order. Axar Patel as a vice-captain is a great decision.”
All-rounder Axar Patel was named the vice-captain of the squad which also saw the return of an in-form Ishan Kishan, who pipped Jitesh Sharma as the second wicketkeeper behind Sanju Samson.
Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar admitted that Gill has been dropped from the squad for lack of runs.
“Obviously he (Gill) has been short of runs and since he wasn’t picked, we needed a vice-captain,” Agarkar said at the press conference.
Rinku Singh, who was a part of the victorious Asia Cup winning squad made a comeback as the designated finisher in place of Jitesh. Ishan, apart from being the second keeper, will be the reserve opener.
( With PTI Inputs )
