India squad for 2026 T20 World Cup announced (Image Credit:- X)

The BCCI announced India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup on December 20, confirming key bold decisions. India surprisingly left out vice-captain Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup squad, excluding wicketkeeper batter Jithesh Sharma too.

Gill was dropped from the squad due to his noticeable dip in form in T20 Internationals. Jithesh Sharma was omitted following a tactical reshuffle, with selectors preferring a wicketkeeper capable of opening the innings.

Also Read:- India seal series 3-1 after 30 run win over South Africa

Axar Patel has been appointed India’s vice-captain in Gill’s absence. Ishan Kishan earned a recall after scoring 517 runs in 10 Syed Mushtaq Ali innings, averaging 57.32 and striking 197.32. Rinku Singh, who missed recent T20I squads, has also been included in India’s squad.

The same Indian squad has also been confirmed to play the upcoming five match T20I series against New Zealand. Here we provide a detail analysis of each player in the squad.

1.Suryakumar Yadhav – Captain / Batter

Suryakumar Yadhav has been struggling for runs recently, failing to find form and consistency that he usually brings. In 2025, Suryakumar Yadhav scored just 218 runs in 19 innings, averaging 13.62 with a strike rate of 123.16. He did not score any half centuries in last 22 innings.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
99	93	2788	117	163.23	35.29	21	4

2.Axar Patel – Vice Captain / Allrounder

Axar Patel is one of India’s key players in white ball cricket, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. In 2025, Axar Patel played 19 matches, scoring 183 runs and taking 17 wickets showcasing his all round abilities.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
85	52	681	65	135.11	20.02	1	0

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
85	79	248.1	1798	82	3/9	21.92	7.24

3.Sanju Samson – Wicket keeper Batter

Sanju Samson’s form in international cricket has been excellent whenever he starts the innings as an opening batter. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson has scored 450 runs, averaging 34.92 with a strike rate of 181.60.

He became the first player to score three T20I centuries in a single calendar year (2024), setting a remarkable record.

Shubman Gill’s comeback to the squad cost Sanju Samson not only his opener’s role but also his place in the team. Gill’s lean patch now forced selectors to drop him, ensuring Sanju Samson his place as an opener.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
52	44	1032	111	148.06	25.80	3	3

4.Abhishek Sharma – Opening Batter

Abhishek Sharma is currently in exceptional form in T20Is, consistently delivering impactful performance as an opener. In 2025, he played 21 matches, scoring 859 runs , averaging 42.95 with a strike rate of 193.46. He also recorded one century and five half-centuries.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
33	32	1115	135	188.02	35.96	6	2

5.Tilak Varma – Batter

With his consistent performance in the middle order, he secured his place in the squad. In 2025, he played 20 matches, scoring 567 runs , averaging 47.25 with a strike rate of over 129.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
40	37	1183	120*	144.09	49.29	6	2

6.Hardik Pandya – Allrounder

Hardik Pandya is a key player for India in white ball cricket, providing crucial balance with bat and ball. After recovering from a quadriceps injury, Hardik Pandya made a strong T20I comeback against South Africa.

In the recent series against South Africa, Hardik Pandya scored 142 runs in 3 innings with an impressive strike rate of 186.84.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
124	97	2002	71*	143.51	28.60	7	0

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
124	112	324.5	2719	101	4/16	26.92	8.29

7.Ishan Kishan – Wicket Keeper Batter

Ishan Kishan last played for India in November 2023, during the T20I against Australia in Guwahati. Recently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he topped charts with 517 runs and led Jharkhand to maiden title. This outstanding performance encouraged the selectors to pick him.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
32	32	796	89	124.37	25.67	6	0

8.Shivam Dube – Allrounder

With both bat and ball, Shivam Dube has produced impactful performance in T20Is, showcasing his growing influences in this format. In 2025, he played 14 matches, scoring 357 runs , averaging 32.45 with a strike rate of 132.22. He also picked up 13 wickets in T20is, with best bowling figures of 3 for 4.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
50	36	639	63*	139.82	26.62	4	0

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
50	34	71.0	649	23	3/4	28.21	9.14

9.Washington Sundar – Allrounder

One of India’s best spin bowling allrounders, Washington Sundar earned his place in the World Cup squad. He can be handy as the tournament will be played on spin friendly pitches in India and Srilanka.

In 2025, he scored 124 runs , averaging 31.00 with a strike rate of 203.33. In the T20I series against Australia in November, he achieved his best bowling figures , taking 3 wickets for just 3 runs.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
58	24	254	50	134.39	16.93	1	0

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
58	54	167.5	1161	51	3/3	22.76	6.91

10.Rinku Singh – Batter

Rinku Singh was included in the squad for his exceptional skills and reliability as India’s designated finishing batter. In 2025, he played 13 matches, scoring 206 runs , averaging 29.43 with a strike rate of 153.73.

T20I Played	Innings	Runs	H.S	Strike Rate	Average	50’s	100’s
35	25	550	69*	161.76	42.30	3	0

11.Kuldeep Yadhav – Spin Bowler

Kuldeep Yadav was selected in the squad due to his unique left arm wrist spin skills and impressive recent performance. In 2025, Kuldeep Yadhav took 21 wickets in 10 matches, recording his best figures of 4 for 7.

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
50	48	173.5	1186	90	5/17	13.17	6.82

12.Varun Chakravarthy – Spin Bowler

Varun is an automatic selection for India’s World Cup team due to his consistent performance and unique spin variations. He was ranked the No.1 T20I bowler by the ICC in 2025. in 20 matches, he took 36 wickets, maintaining a bowling average of 13.19 and an economy rate of 7.28. His best bowling figures of 5 for 24 came against England earlier this year.

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
33	31	117.3	818	55	5/17	14.87	6.96

13.Harshit Rana – Pace Bowler

Harshit Rana is one of the frontline pacers in the squad. He bowls into the pitch, varies his pace cleverly, and can also contribute valuable runs in the lower order. In 2025, he played 7 matches, taking 7 wickets with a bowling average of 24.71 and an economy of 10.18.

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
6	5	17.0	173	7	3/33	24.71	10.71

14.Arshdeep Singh – Pace Bowler

Arshdeep Singh’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad was inevitable, given his consistency and match winning ability. As a left arm bowler, he consistently delivers under pressure at the death.

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
72	71	247.2	2080	110	4/9	18.90	8.40

15.Jasprit Bumrah – Pace Bowler

Bumrah is an automatic selection for India in all formats whenever he is fit. He is a world class bowler, a pure match winner in any conditions and an exceptional death over specialist for India.

T20I Played	Innings	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
83	80	292.4	1872	103	3/7	18.17	6.39