What is India's best T20 XI selected from players that did not make the World Cup squad?
On Saturday (December 20), the defending champions announced their squad for the tournament. Their form since the last one has been excellent, with seven consecutive bilateral series wins and an Asia Cup title in this format.
None of this could have been achieved without genuine strength in depth; it is well-known that India have one of the deepest white-ball talent pools in the world. Here is an XI from players who did not make the cut, that could compete with some of the best in the world.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Every second Indian fan would probably tell you Jaiswal should be in India’s first-choice side. He was the backup opener at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and perhaps logically should have simply slotted in after Rohit Sharma retired. But Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have since formed an incredible pair at the top, keeping him out.
From 23 T20Is, Jaiswal averages 36 and strikes at 164. Across 67 IPL matches, he has a strike rate of 153. You wouldn’t want to be the one telling him he has to warm the bench…
Shubman Gill
A debatable choice in India’s first XI, Gill makes the second XI fairly easily – unless you were to go for the more rogue option of Vaibhav Suryavanshi. But let’s say the minimum qualification for this side is to be an adult.
He’s been in some scratchy form of late, but at his best Gill is perhaps Virat Kohli-lite in the T20 format; occasionally a slow starter, looking to bat through the innings and accelerating in the slog overs. His 890-run IPL season in 2023 is testament enough to this.
Read more: Explained: Why Shubman Gill was left out of India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad
Rajat Patidar
No.3 is a toss-up between Patidar and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad is the only one of the two that has actually played this format internationally, and even has a century to his name. But with Gill already here, another batter with a similar template is probably not required.
Like Gill now, Patidar is short of runs – he averaged 16 and struck at 136 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. But he remains one of the most destructive spin-hitters in India, with the capability to smash from the word go. It helps that he is also an IPL-winning captain, the most recent one to boot.
Shreyas Iyer
Another captaincy candidate in this team, Iyer was the losing captain in this year’s IPL final, but did win the 2024 IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as skipper. He is also one of the first names on India’s ODI team sheet at No.4.
Iyer is also a fearsome spin-basher, but notably levelled up against pace bowling in 2025. With the ability to accelerate through the middle-overs, he slots in quite well here.
Riyan Parag
Parag is admittedly a spot or two too low at No.5, but too good a talent not to be included. His last two IPL seasons were a breath of fresh air, as he scored in excess of 900 runs and struck at 156. It is unfortunate that his international career remains limited to nine T20Is and a solitary ODI so far.
Usefully, he also provides a bowling option in the top five with his somewhat awkward off spin.
Jitesh Sharma (wk)
Jitesh has been in and around the India setup, and was only axed from the T20 World Cup squad since India wanted a wicketkeeper who could open the batting, to serve as Samson’s understudy.
Also read: How Ishan Kishan broke into India’s T20 World Cup squad after two years out of contention
A volatile player (as expected for the role he performs), he is both a solid gloveman and a capable finisher. Look no further than his 33-ball 85 against LSG from this year’s IPL, a performance that came when he was standing in as RCB skipper as well.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
One of India’s only seam-bowling all-rounders at this level, NKR is Hardik Pandya’s backup in the main team, and almost nailed-on to take over the mantle when Pandya calls time on his career. For now, he has to settle for the first-choice slot in this side.
Reddy impressed early on in India colours with 74 off 34 against Bangladesh in August 2024. He is yet to light up international cricket with the ball, but can swing it up front. It was heartening to see him pick up a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy hat-trick this season against Madhya Pradesh, bowling none other than Patidar to complete it.
Krunal Pandya
A slightly left-field pick, given that Krunal’s time with the Indian team seems to have been and gone by now. But in the spirit of recreating India’s first XI, he becomes Axar/Sundar-lite here.
In IPL 2025, Krunal had a stellar season with the ball, taking 17 wickets and conceding at 8.2 an over. His batting left a bit to be desired, but there is enough confidence for him to be employed as a floater in this side to break up the litany of right-handers if required. He also provides a Powerplay bowling option.
Ravi Bishnoi
Of late in Kuldeep Yadav’s absence, Bishnoi has been India’s go-to wrist spinner. It doesn’t reflect well that his IPL franchise chose to release him this year, but he remained quite sought-after in the auction and will now link up with Parag and Jaiswal at Rajasthan Royals.
India do have a slight shortage of wrist-spinners proven at the highest level in T20 cricket, so Bishnoi is probably still the best choice for now.
Mohammed Siraj
A Test regular and until recently an ODI starter as well, Siraj can be erratic at times but is still an effective Powerplay bowler. In the most recent IPL, Josh Hazlewood was the only bowler to take more wickets at a better economy rate than Siraj in the first six overs.
Thanks to Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, India do not really feel the lack of Siraj in their bowling lineup, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a solid option. In his four Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games this season, he took seven wickets and even put on a couple of high-class death bowling displays.
Prasidh Krishna
The IPL’s current Purple Cap holder is not really in the T20I frame – it sounds incredible, but in all fairness, his excellent last season remains the exception to the rule that Krishna can be an expensive bowler even on a good day.
At his best (and we hope he is for this exercise), he is a superb middle-overs enforcer whose tendency to go for runs is quelled somewhat by the extra fielders outside the 30-yard circle. His pace, height and subsequent bounce do yield his fair share of wickets too.
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