India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be finalized today, December 20, 2025, with the announcement expected around 1:30 PM IST. The BCCI selection committee is meeting in Mumbai to discuss and finalize the squad, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar leading the discussions. The squad named will cover both the five-match home T20I series against New Zealand and the World Cup itself. As defending champions and co-hosts alongside Sri Lanka, there's significant pressure on the selectors to strike the right balance between form, fitness, and experience. The decision-making is crucial, as India aims to become the first team to successfully defend a men's T20 World Cup title. The announcement will be broadcast on the Star Sports network in India and streamed live on JioHotstar.
Several spots in the squad are generating considerable debate. One major talking point revolves around Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson. Gill, who is currently the vice-captain, has been struggling with his form, while Samson has had limited opportunities despite being in good touch. Selectors may not be keen on including new faces with the World Cup and New Zealand series approaching. Gill's recent performances have raised concerns, with his highest score in the last 15 innings being just 47. There is a debate between Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar. Rinku Singh's selection is another emotional debate, as he has performed well in the domestic circuit and contributed crucial innings in T20 cricket over the past year, but his inclusion in the final team is uncertain. Gautam Gambhir prefers all-rounders which could settle the debate between Sundar and Singh.
Suryakumar Yadav will captain the Indian team in the T20 World Cup. There had been speculation about Suryakumar Yadav's future as captain, especially considering he hasn't had a half-century since October 2024, but the BCCI has confirmed his role. Aakash Chopra has said that Shubman Gill is likely to continue as vice-captain, though Hardik Pandya remains an option.
Reports suggest that the selectors are likely to lean heavily on the group that recently featured against South Africa, though current form will also be reviewed. From the 2024 T20 World Cup winning side, at least seven names may be missing from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20 format, while Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant, Yuzvendra Chahal and Yashasvi Jaiswal are lined up for omission.
Probable players for the squad include Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Other possible team members are Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.
