Suryakumar Yadav leads while Axar Patel becomes new vice-captain.
Mumbai: Big changes arrived for Indian cricket today as the BCCI officially finalised the India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav met at the headquarters to pick a 15-member team aimed at defending the title. The biggest headline from the meeting is the exclusion of star opener Shubman Gill, who has been dropped following a string of inconsistent performances in the shortest format.
To balance the leadership, the selection committee has appointed Axar Patel as the new vice-captain. This move signals a shift in strategy, prioritizing versatile all-rounders in the leadership group. While Gill’s absence is a major talking point for Odia cricket fans, the return of Ishan Kishan has sparked excitement. Kishan earned his spot back after a stellar domestic run, providing India with a dynamic left-handed opening option and a reliable wicketkeeping backup.
Explaining the tough decision to drop Gill, Agarkar noted that team combinations were the priority. Although Gill recently participated in the Test series in England, his T20I form remained stagnant, with no half-centuries in his last 15 appearances. The selectors instead showed faith in Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson to provide explosive starts at the top of the order.
The middle order remains robust with the inclusion of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and the clinical finisher Rinku Singh. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. The spin department looks formidable with Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Washington Sundar joining the squad.
This squad will also represent India in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, serving as a vital preparation ground before the World Cup kicks off in February 2026. With the tournament being held in the subcontinent, the selectors have clearly leaned towards players who can navigate spinning tracks effectively.
