Gill Dropped, Kishan In as BCCI Names T20 WC Squad

India have named a 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Shubman Gill missing out and Ishan Kishan earning a recall following strong domestic performances. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Axar Patel has been appointed vice-captain, while Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side. The same squad will also feature in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled from January 21 to 31.

The selection was finalised after deliberations by the senior men’s selection panel, following which the squad was officially announced. Alongside Kishan, Rinku Singh has also returned to the setup after impressing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Gill’s omission marks a significant decision, as the batter has struggled for consistency in the format this year. Despite previously serving as India’s T20I vice-captain, Gill managed only 291 runs from 15 matches, with no half-centuries, leading to his exclusion.

Ishan Kishan has been picked as the second wicketkeeper alongside Sanju Samson. Samson recently crossed the 1,000-run mark in T20 internationals and became only the seventh Indian to score 8,000 runs in the format overall. Jitesh Sharma, meanwhile, has been dropped after modest returns in the recent series against South Africa.

Rinku Singh’s inclusion strengthens India’s middle-order finishing options. The left-hander, who missed out on the previous T20 World Cup squad, has shown improved consistency and impact, making him a valuable asset in home conditions.

The batting lineup will also feature Abhishek Sharma, who is set to make his maiden T20 World Cup appearance. Since his debut, Abhishek has emerged as one of the most explosive batters in international cricket and recently became the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced. He also played a pivotal role in India’s Asia Cup triumph, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.

India’s bowling attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, both of whom were instrumental in the team’s previous World Cup success. Harshit Rana provides additional pace depth, while the spin department includes Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. All-round options such as Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel offer balance across departments.

India head into the World Cup with strong momentum, having extended their unbeaten run in bilateral T20I series since August 2023 with a 3–1 win over South Africa. Further preparation opportunities will come during the New Zealand series.

India will open their World Cup campaign on February 7 against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, followed by matches against Namibia, Pakistan and the Netherlands in the group stage.

India’s T20 World Cup squad:

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan