India have left out vice-captain Shubman Gill from their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who topped the charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs at nearly two a ball, replaced Gill in the top order, allowing India to squeeze in Rinku Singh, who has not been part of recent T20I squads. The late change in strategy meant Jitesh Sharma, the No. 1 wicketkeeper in recent series, had to miss out.
In Gill’s absence, Axar Patel was named the vice-captain of the 15-man squad. The rest of the selection went along expected lines. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were the three frontline fast bowlers with two of them expected to make it to the final XI. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav were the two frontline spinners, joined by Axar and Washington Sundar as the spin allrounders.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were the seam-bowling allrounders to go with a power-packed middle order of captain Suryakumar Yadav, tilak Varma and Rinku. Opener Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Kishan rounded up the 15.
The same squad will play the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
India are the defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the final of the 2024 edition.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk)
ESPNcricinfo