The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially unveiled the 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday, December 20, 2025. In a significant shake-up to the leadership group, Suryakumar Yadav has been retained as the captain, while star all-rounder Axar Patel has been elevated to the role of Vice-Captain, replacing Shubman Gill.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, led by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The Big Bold Call: Shubman Gill Dropped
The most stunning revelation of the announcement was the exclusion of Shubman Gill. Despite being the deputy in previous series, Gill’s inconsistent T20I form throughout 2025 led the selectors to make a "bold call" to move on from the opener for this edition.
Taking his place in the squad is Ishan Kishan, who earned his recall following a record-breaking performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rinku Singh also makes a well-deserved return to the 15-member roster after being a standby in the previous edition.
Squad Composition and Key Inclusions
The squad reflects a mix of explosive youth and seasoned experience, specifically tailored for the home conditions in India and Sri Lanka.
- Top Order: The "indispensable" Abhishek Sharma is set to open alongside Sanju Samson, who has finally cemented his spot as the primary wicketkeeper-opener.
- Middle Order: Tilak Varma's stellar run at No. 3 and his ability to anchor chases have made him a certain starter. He is followed by the captain himself, Suryakumar Yadav, and the finishing duo of Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh.
- Spin Department: The vice-captain Axar Patel leads the spin attack along with Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and the "mystery" spin of Varun Chakravarthy.
- Pace Battery: Jasprit Bumrah headlines the attack, supported by left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh and the rising pace sensation Harshit Rana.
Official 15-Member Squad for T20 WC 2026
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Axar Patel (VC)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Rinku Singh
- Shivam Dube
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
Road Ahead: New Zealand Series as a Warm-up
The BCCI confirmed that this exact 15-member squad will also represent India in the upcoming five-match T20I home series against New Zealand, starting January 21, 2026, in Nagpur. This series will serve as the final dress rehearsal before the World Cup kicks off on February 7, 2026, with India facing the USA at the Wankhede Stadium.
