India Squad For T20 World Cup 2026 Announced: Shubman Gill Dropped, Ishan Kishan Returns

India named their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday, prioritising role clarity and current form over continuity, with Shubman Gill the notable omission and Ishan Kishan earning a recall after a strong domestic season. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee made a few decisive calls rather than sweeping changes, reshaping the top-order and wicketkeeping options as competition for limited slots forced several high-profile exclusions.

India squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh

Shubman Gill dropped as selectors prioritise recent form

Gill’s place at the top of the order had been one of the central discussion points heading into the selection meeting. The opener has struggled for returns in T20Is, going 18 innings without a half-century and producing modest scores across the Asia Cup and recent bilateral series. This time, however, the selectors chose not to persist.

While Gill had previously been backed as a long-term option, the panel opted to prioritise current output over continuity with the World Cup fast approaching. The view within the team management was that India could no longer afford to carry an out-of-form anchor at the top, especially with Powerplay momentum becoming a decisive factor in subcontinental conditions.

Ishan Kishan back after standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Ishan Kishan’s return to the India squad follows a domestic season that left little room for debate. The left-hander topped the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy run charts, scoring 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32, including two centuries, and consistently setting the tone at the top of the order. This time, the weight of runs translated into selection.

Kishan’s recall marks a reversal from earlier cycles, where similar performances had not been enough to break into a settled squad. The scale and timing of his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, however, aligned with India’s need to reassess their top-order options ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Reflecting on past omissions, Kishan had earlier told Sportstar: “I told myself that if I am not selected with this sort of performance, then maybe I have to do more. Maybe I have to make my team win. Maybe we have to do well as a unit.”

That approach has paid off. By combining volume with intent and consistency, Kishan has forced his way back into the national setup, earning another opportunity to translate domestic dominance onto the international stage.

Why Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal Are Left Out

Rinku Singh is part of the squad, with the selectors retaining him as a middle-order option after his contributions across the recent T20 cycle. His ability to slot into the finisher’s role and provide batting depth worked in his favour, especially with the team management continuing to value flexibility in the lower middle order under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, however, misses out. Despite being in contention, he was edged out as the selectors opted to carry Ishan Kishan as the reserve opening option behind Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. With limited fixtures remaining before the tournament, the panel avoided overcrowding the top-order pool and chose Kishan’s left-handed explosiveness and wicketkeeping utility as a more versatile backup for the T20 World Cup.

Bowling group settled; Mohammed Siraj misses the cut

The pace attack remains unchanged, with Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana forming the fast-bowling unit. Mohammed Siraj was left out as India opted to stick with the bowlers who have featured through the current T20 cycle.

Spin duties will be handled by Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, giving India four spin options for conditions in India and Sri Lanka.

India Schedule For T20 World Cup 2026