The India squad for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup will be announced on December 20: follow all the live updates here, including news and reports on the team composition.
India squad announcement for 2026 T20 World Cup
Date: December 20, 2025
Time: 1.30pm IST
Where: BCCI Headquarters, Cricket Centre, Mumbai
No Shubman Gill! India have called up Ishan Kishan instead.
Explained: Why Gill was left out of India's T20 World Cup squad
It's a home World Cup for India, with three out of their four group games set to be held at home, with India v Pakistan the only fixture outside (in Colombo). India are in the same group as Namibia, Netherlands, USA and Pakistan.
The biggest debate was around Shubman Gill, who couldn't make it to the squad. This year, he has a best of 47 from 15 innings, at a strike-rate of 137.26, lower than his career number.
In case you missed out, India beat South Africa by 30 runs to seal the series last night.
Given the kind of form Ishan Kishan has been in, leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, there were whispers whether he can be a wildcard entry into the squad. India called him back into the squad, with Rinku Singh getting a spot and Jitesh Sharma missing out.
The squad is set to be led by Suryakumar Yadav, who will be leading India at a World Cup for the first time. As defending champions, India will be dealing with the pressure of expectations, but are going into the tournament largely on form, leading the South Africa series 2-1 ahead of the final game. They also won the series in Australia 2-1.
India squad announcement for 2026 T20 World Cup: Live updates
1 month ago
1 month ago
The PC ends
Gill is definitely the biggest surprise from the announcement.
1 month ago
SKY: I have been batting beautifully in the nets
It's a small huddle, but I'll get past it soon
1 month ago
No standby players announced
Since the tournament is in India, replacements can fly in easily.
1 month ago
Change of vice-captaincy too
Axar Patel gets back the vice-captaincy from Shubman Gill.
1 month ago
No place for Jaiswal either
The top-order is packed with options, now that Kishan is in the mix.
1 month ago
No place for Jitesh Sharma
Both SKY and Agarkar have repeated that India wanted a keeper at the top.
1 month ago
SKY on Gill: He is a terrific player, no question about it
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.
1 month ago
SKY: We are happy with what we have
The squad we have has 2-3 combinations based on the opposition
1 month ago
Agarkar: Two all-rounders give us flexibility
Could even be a case where you play six spinners. We have a lot more options to play.
1 month ago
Agarkar on Gill
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.
1 month ago
Agarkar on Kishan: 'We felt he's the right candidate'
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
1 month ago
No Gill!
A surprising development in the squad announcement.
1 month ago
India squad for T20 World Cup 2026
SKY, Abhishek, Samson, Tilak, Hardik, Dube, Axar (VC), Rinku, Bumrah, Rana, Arshdeep, Kuldeep,Varun CV, Washington S, Kishan
1 month ago
The same squad will face New Zealand too
T20 World Cup squad being announced now
1 month ago
Saikia: "We had to wait for 35 minutes"
SKY's flight was delayed, leading to the delay.
1 month ago
Devajit Saikia has entered the PC room
Agarkar and SKY to follow
1 month ago
The squad is set to be out in a few minutes
Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav are just about to enter the press conference room.
1 month ago
The meeting is over
The press conference is set to begin soon
1 month ago
1 month ago
Press conference to be delayed?
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.
1 month ago
1 month ago
Who will be India's bowlers?
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.
1 month ago
SKY has been woefully out of form
In 19 innings this year, he has gone without a fifty. The strike-rate has been 123.16: quite under-par.
1 month ago
Agarkar, SKY to address press conference today
The announcement is scheduled for 1.30pm IST
1 month ago
Plenty of reports speculating on SKY's captaincy future
Will he continue to lead after the T20 World Cup? Maybe that's a question for later.
1 month ago
How serious is Gill's injury?
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."
1 month ago
Meanwhile, Kohli and Rohit to play VHT
Not related to this squad, but looks like India's two stalwarts are set to feature in domestic cricket.
1 month ago
Hardik Pandya in form ahead of T20 World Cup
A 16-ball fifty against South Africa in the final T20I. India would be hoping he stays fit ahead of the competition.
1 month ago
Bumrah, Hardik rested for NZ?
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.
1 month ago
Rinku in, no Sundar?
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.
1 month ago
Washington takes the ball in the Powerplay
Could that earn him a World Cup starting XI spot ahead of Kuldeep?
1 month ago
Samson putting pressure on Gill's spot?
The opener is looking in menacing touch in Ahmedabad.
1 month ago
1 month ago
Washington Sundar is in the XI vs South Africa
The all-rounder will get a chance to impress, in place of Kuldeep Yadav today.
1 month ago
Sanju Samson is expected to play against South Africa tonight
Shubman Gill is reportedly set to miss the fifth T20I. Could an impactful knock from Samson push him into first XI contention?
1 month ago
Can Kishan come in as backup keeper?
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.
1 month ago
Is there still space for Rinku Singh?
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.
1 month ago
The squad for the New Zealand T20Is will also be announced
Along with the T20 World Cup squad.
1 month ago
Does Shahbaz Ahmed's re-entry mean anything?
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.
1 month ago
How different will the squad be from the Asia Cup?
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
1 month ago
Will there be any surprises?
The big question is around Shubman Gill, but India are unlikely to move away from him so close to the event
1 month ago
India's squad for the T20 World Cup out tomorrow
Follow live updates of the event here.
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