India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Announced: Shubman Gill Dropped, Ishan Kishan Makes Comeback

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India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Announced: Shubman Gill Dropped, Ishan Kishan Makes Comeback

bySagar
21 Dec, 2025

Mumbai:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced India’s 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, bringing several major selection calls into focus. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, while Axar Patel has been appointed as the new vice-captain. One of the biggest surprises from the announcement is the exclusion of Shubman Gill, with Ishan Kishan making a strong return to the national T20 setup.

The selection meeting took place on December 20 at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, chaired by chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The squad was formally announced by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. The upcoming T20 World Cup will be hosted in India, making this squad announcement particularly significant as expectations are high from the home side.

Key Changes in India’s T20 World Cup Squad

The most discussed decision has been the omission of Shubman Gill, who has struggled to find form in recent T20 internationals. Gill managed only 32 runs across three innings in the T20 series against South Africa, which appears to have influenced the selectors’ decision.

In contrast, Ishan Kishan’s return has been widely welcomed. The wicketkeeper-batter earned his place back in the squad following a sensational performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Kishan was the tournament’s standout player, scoring over 500 runs, hitting the most sixes, and registering multiple centuries. Under his captaincy, Jharkhand won their first-ever SMAT title, further strengthening his case for selection.

Axar Patel Named Vice-Captain

With Gill out of the picture, Axar Patel has been promoted to vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2026. Axar’s consistent all-round performances and calm presence on the field have made him a reliable option in leadership discussions. He adds balance to the team with his left-arm spin, lower-order batting, and sharp fielding.

Rinku Singh Returns, Jitesh Sharma Dropped

Alongside Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh has also made a comeback to the T20 World Cup squad. Rinku was part of India’s T20 Asia Cup campaign but was later dropped for the South Africa series. His return provides India with a proven finisher who has repeatedly delivered under pressure.

On the other hand, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has been left out of the World Cup squad despite featuring in the South Africa T20 series. The selectors appear to have opted for experience and recent domestic form while finalising the squad.

Strong Core Retained After South Africa Series

The selectors have largely backed players who performed well in the recent T20 series against South Africa. Tilak Varma emerged as India’s top run-scorer in that series, scoring 187 runs in four matches, and has retained his spot. Hardik Pandya also impressed with aggressive batting, scoring 142 runs at a strike rate of over 186, including two half-centuries.

In the bowling department, Varun Chakravarthy was the standout performer, picking up 10 wickets in four matches and winning the Player of the Series award. His inclusion, along with Kuldeep Yadav, gives India a strong spin attack suited to home conditions.

Pace and All-Round Strength

India’s pace attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. The all-rounder group includes Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, providing flexibility in team combinations.

With a balanced mix of experience, youth, and in-form domestic performers, the squad reflects India’s intent to build a strong and settled unit ahead of the marquee tournament.