India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been announced, with Suryakumar Yadav named captain and Axar Patel confirmed as vice‑captain.
Full 15-Man India Squad
Multiple mainstream reports list the same final 15 picked by the BCCI selection committee for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
India’s Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026:
- Suryakumar Yadav (captain) – middle‑order batter
- Axar Patel (vice‑captain) – all‑rounder
- Abhishek Sharma – top‑order batter/all‑rounder
- Tilak Varma – middle‑order batter
- Hardik Pandya – pace‑bowling all‑rounder
- Shivam Dube – batting all‑rounder
- Rinku Singh – finisher
- Jasprit Bumrah – fast bowler
- Arshdeep Singh – left‑arm fast bowler
- Varun Chakravarthy – mystery spinner
- Kuldeep Yadav – left‑arm wrist‑spinner
- Harshit Rana – fast bowler
- Washington Sundar – spin‑bowling all‑rounder
- Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper) – keeper‑batter
- Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper) – keeper‑batter
The same squad will play the @IDFCFIRSTBank 5-match T20I series against New Zealand in January.#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ https://t.co/o94Vdqo8j5
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 20, 2025
Big Selection Calls
Reports highlight that Shubman Gill, earlier seen as a likely vice‑captain and top‑order lock, has been dropped from the World Cup squad, with the think‑tank preferring a more aggressive left‑hand dominated top order. Jitesh Sharma has also missed out, with Sanju Samson retained as primary keeper and Ishan Kishan recalled after strong domestic performances.
The selectors have doubled down on a power‑hitting, all‑rounder heavy core, with Hardik, Dube, Axar and Washington providing multiple bowling options alongside Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun and Kuldeep. This group is largely consistent with the side that has been playing recent T20Is under Suryakumar Yadav, in line with BCCI’s plan to maintain continuity into the home World Cup.
Note – The same squad will play the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand in January
