India announce squad for T20 World Cup 2026; Shubman Gill dropped

India will begin their campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the USA on February 7.

On Saturday, December 20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian Cricket Team‘s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8 and will be played in India and Sri Lanka. 

The Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be captained by Suryakumar Yadav, with Axar Patel being his deputy. India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, who has been struggling to score runs since his return to the format, has been dropped from the team.

For the opening slot, Abhishek Sharma will be there along with Sanju Samson, who will be the keeper as well. The middle-order features of captain Yadav, Tilak Varma and pace-bowling all-rounders in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.

Ishan Kishan is the backup wicketkeeper in the team and is making a comeback. Rinku Singh has now cemented his place in the team after being left out of the previous T20 World Cup squad.

VC Axar Patel is the spin-bowling all-rounder and will share the spin duties with Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.

Jasprit Bumrah will lead the Indian pace department and has the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. The trio will hold the key for India in the tournament as the hosts are set to play all their games at night, where swing might be on offer.

India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Axar Patel (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

India’s schedule for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

India will begin their campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 7 against the USA in Mumbai. After that, they will move to Delhi, where they will take on Namibia on February 12.

Their third game will be against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, followed by their last match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.

1. India vs USA, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, February 7

2. India vs Namibia, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, February 12

3. India vs Pakistan, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, February 15

4. India vs Netherlands, Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, February 18

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