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MUMBAI: Defending champions India have sprung a major surprise ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, leaving out star batter and vice-captain Shubman Gill from the 15-member squad announced for the home tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the squad on Saturday as India prepare to defend their crown in the global event, which will run from February 7 to March 8.
The Men in Blue will be aiming to lift the T20 World Cup for a record third time, having defeated South Africa in the final of the 2024 edition.
Gill’s omission is the headline decision from the selection panel, with the prolific right-hander failing to make the cut despite being a regular feature in recent white-ball squads.
Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in his first ICC tournament as captain; meanwhile, all-rounder Axar Patel has been named vice-captain in Gill’s absence.
The selectors have also opted for a fresh balance in the batting group, leaving out Jitesh Sharma while backing Rinku Singh.
Another notable inclusion is Ishan Kishan, who returns to the T20I setup after last featuring for India in November 2023 against Australia. His recall adds depth to the wicketkeeping options alongside Sanju Samson, while also bolstering the left-handed presence in the top order.
Before the World Cup, India will face New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is. The same squad will feature in the T20I series, scheduled from January 21 to January 31 in preparation for the marquee event.
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
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