Patiala, 20 December (Sports Desk)
Defending champions and co-hosts India have unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will begin on February 7, 2026. India enter the tournament as strong favourites, aiming to lift a record third T20 World Cup title.
In a major talking point, star batter Shreyas Iyer has been left out of the squad, despite his consistent performances in recent white-ball cricket. The selection committee has opted for a blend of youth, experience, and form.
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Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in his first ICC tournament as captain, with Axar Patel named as his deputy in the absence of Shubman Gill.
India’s 15-Member Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026:
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Tilak Varma
- Sanju Samson
- Shivam Dube
- Ishan Kishan
- Hardik Pandya
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Axar Patel (Vice-Captain)
- Washington Sundar
- Rinku Singh
Key Highlights of the Squad:
- The team features a strong mix of aggressive top-order batsmen (Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan), reliable middle-order options (Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson), and explosive finishers (Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh).
- Jasprit Bumrah leads a formidable pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
- The spin department is well-stocked with wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, and all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
- Hardik Pandya returns as a key all-rounder, while Shivam Dube adds power-hitting depth.
India, co-hosting the tournament alongside Sri Lanka, will be looking to dominate the competition and defend their title won in 2024. The absence of Shreyas Iyer has sparked widespread debate among fans and experts, but the selectors appear to have backed in-form players and those who have performed consistently in T20 cricket over the past year.
The tournament is scheduled to be played across venues in India and Sri Lanka, with India expected to open their campaign in early February 2026.
