The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the fifteen-member squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In a significant decision by the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, star opening batter Shubman Gill was dropped from the team due to a recent dip in form and a foot injury. To replace his leadership role, all-rounder Axar Patel was named the new vice-captain under the continued captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
The squad features the high-profile returns of Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh, while Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are set to be the primary openers. Chief Selector Agarkar explained that the exclusion of Gill, who has failed to score a half-century in his last eighteen T20I innings, was driven by the need for better team combinations. Defending champions India will co-host the tournament with Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
The team is scheduled to play a preparatory five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting on January 21, 2026, using the same squad to fine-tune their strategy ahead of their opening World Cup fixture against the USA in Mumbai.
