India Name 2026 T20 World Cup Squad, Captain Dropped
In a shocking turn of events, Team India have left out their Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill from their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup hosted by India & Sri Lanka. Gill was the vice captain of the side during the 2025 Asia Cup.
Gill was part of India’s setup during the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados as a reserve player. Recently, a niggle in his right foot ruled him out of the abandoned fourth T20I against South Africa in Lucknow. He was ready to play the fifth and final T20I, even if it meant taking painkillers. However, the team management advised against the risk with the World Cup approaching.
Gill was previously ruled out of the two Tests and then the ODI series against South Africa. Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were the respective stand-in captains.
It is learnt that India’s Test and ODI captain had been mentally preparing for both the 2026 T20 World Cup and the New Zealand series. In Gill’s absence, Axar Patel has been named vice-captain of the 15-member squad. Axar Patel was also the vice-captain when India played a 5-match T20I series against England in early 2025.
Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh Make Strong Comebacks
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returns to the squad after a strong domestic season. He finished as the leading run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs at nearly two runs per ball. He also led Jharkhand to the domestic T20 title, scoring a century in the final.
Kishan replaces Gill in the top order and becomes the third opener in the squad. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be opening the batting for India.
Rinku Singh also returns after missing recent T20I squads and the 2024 T20 World Cup. His inclusion comes at the expense of Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh had been the first-choice wicketkeeper in the recent South Africa series. The wicketkeeper and middle order batter did everything that was asked of him, both with the gloves and the bat.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal also misses out of the 15-man squad. He was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad but has since fallen behind senior batters in the playing eleven. Then to Gill ahead the 2026 T20 World Cup and now he lost to an in-form Kishan in the race for an opening spot. It is hard to fathom an international team that would turn him down if he could switch sides.
Bowling Unit and Middle Order for 2026 T20 World Cup
The rest of the selection happened as expected. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana form the core fast-bowling group, with two of them likely to feature in the final playing XI.
India have opted for variety in spin. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are the frontline spinners. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar add depth as spin-bowling all-rounders.
The middle order looks settled and powerful. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side, supported by Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Pandya and Dube are the seam-bowling allrounders. The former made his international return against South Africa in the T20I series. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan complete the batting group.
Tilak Varma underwent a surgery for Testicular Torsion in Rajkot on January 7 and has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand to be played on January 21, 23 and 25. His availability for the last two T20Is on January 28 and 31 will be assessed according to his recovery. If Tilak fails to recover on time, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Riyan Parag are in line to replace him.
The same squad will also play the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand following the 3 ODIs. The T20I series starts from January 21.
What’s Next for Gill and India
Gill will turn out for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before rejoining the Indian team for the ODI series from January 11. While the ODI squad is yet to be announced, Gill is expected to return as full-time captain, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also featuring in the one-day setup.
India still remain the strongest T20 side in the world and will begin the 2026 T20 World Cup as favourites to defend their title.
The tournament starts on February 7 and runs until March 8, 2026. Check out the groups and fixtures in our coverage here.
India Squad for NZ T20Is and 2026 T20 World Cup
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar.