India squad announcement for T20 World Cup 2026, live updates: Shubman Gill out, Ishan Kishan in

Gill is definitely the biggest surprise from the announcement.

It's a small huddle, but I'll get past it soon

Since the tournament is in India, replacements can fly in easily.

Axar Patel gets back the vice-captaincy from Shubman Gill. 

The top-order is packed with options, now that Kishan is in the mix.

Both SKY and Agarkar have repeated that India wanted a keeper at the top.

We wanted to have a keeper, and a Rinku or Washington. That's why we brought an extra keeper. We need a keeper to bat at the top of the order.

 

The squad we have has 2-3 combinations based on the opposition

Could even be a case where you play six spinners. We have a lot more options to play.

We still think he's a quality player. You go through ups and downs. It's more to do with team combination. We felt keeper at the top gives us more solidity. 

He bats at the top. He's in good form. He wasn't there because of Pant and Jurel. Nothing to do with anything else. He bats at the top, Samson at the top too. You're looking at the right backups

A surprising development in the squad announcement.

SKY, Abhishek, Samson, Tilak, Hardik, Dube, Axar (VC), Rinku, Bumrah, Rana, Arshdeep, Kuldeep,Varun CV, Washington S, Kishan

T20 World Cup squad being announced now

SKY's flight was delayed, leading to the delay.

Agarkar and SKY to follow

Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav are just about to enter the press conference room.

The press conference is set to begin soon

Indian Express reports that Suryakumar Yadav's flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai was delayed, because of which the PC might be pushed back a bit. 

Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy are sure-shot entries. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav are easy picks too. Harshit Rana could be the third seamer. 

In 19 innings this year, he has gone without a fifty. The strike-rate has been 123.16: quite under-par.

The announcement is scheduled for 1.30pm IST

Will he continue to lead after the T20 World Cup? Maybe that's a question for later.

This is what the BCCI update said: "Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets on 16th December in Lucknow.

After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final T20I in Ahmedabad."

Not related to this squad, but looks like India's two stalwarts are set to feature in domestic cricket.

A 16-ball fifty against South Africa in the final T20I. India would be hoping he stays fit ahead of the competition.

The Times of India have reported this morning that the star pair are likely to sit out the five-T20I series against New Zealand ahead of the World Cup.

The outlet also reports that Washington Sundar has done enough to keep his spot in the 15.

The Indian Express report that India are keen to go with the same squad that won the Asia Cup. That would include Rinku, but exclude Sundar.

The all-rounder bowled three Powerplay overs in the fifth T20I, allowing India greater flexibility with Jasprit Bumrah's overs.

Could that earn him a World Cup starting XI spot ahead of Kuldeep?

The opener is looking in menacing touch in Ahmedabad.

The all-rounder will get a chance to impress, in place of Kuldeep Yadav today.

Shubman Gill is reportedly set to miss the fifth T20I. Could an impactful knock from Samson push him into first XI contention?

Sanju Samson played that role in the Asia Cup and in the current SA series. Will India persist with him or be tempted to get in Kishan? The issue is that the top-order is packed, and that's where Kishan usually plays.

He played a very limited role in the Asia Cup, and with Washington Sundar in the mix, there's a question mark over his position. 

Along with the T20 World Cup squad.

He was called up as replacement for the ill Axar Patel for the fifth and final T20I v South Africa. However, he hasn't played for India since 2023.

This was India's announced squad for the Asia Cup earlier this year:

Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel

The big question is around Shubman Gill, but India are unlikely to move away from him so close to the event

Follow live updates of the event here.