Key takeaways from India’s squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Co-hosts India became the first team to announce their 15-member squad for the 2026 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, starting 7 February.

While the squad broadly follows the core that featured in the Asia Cup and the T20I series against Australia and South Africa, India have also made some notable calls, with the omission of Shubman Gill emerging as the biggest talking point.

We take a look at the key takeaways from the squad

Sanju Samson trusted over Shubman Gill

When India announced their squad for the Asia Cup in August, the biggest talking point was the return of Shubman Gill, not only as an opener but also as the team’s newly appointed vice-captain.

However, across the 15 matches he played after his comeback, Gill struggled to make a meaningful impact and looked far removed from the batter who had enjoyed a prolific run in recent IPL seasons.

In those 15 games, the 26-year-old scored 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26, without registering a single half-century.

Eyebrows were raised when Gill was drafted straight back into the T20I XI at the expense of Sanju Samson, who had enjoyed an extended run as an opener since the last T20 World Cup.

In the 13 matches Samson opened for India after the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 454 runs at an average of 34.92 and a strike rate of 181.60, including three centuries. While he was later tried in the middle order, his returns there were more modest, with 146 runs in five innings at an average of 36.50 and a strike rate of 129.20, numbers that did not match his impact at the top.

In the end, India have opted to persist with a combination that has delivered over time, backing Samson’s opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma to provide stability and impetus at the top of the order.

Ishan Kishan rewarded for domestic form

The inclusion of Ishan Kishan may appear left field, particularly given he hasn’t featured in T20Is since 2023.

However, finishing as the leading run-scorer in India’s premier domestic T20 competition and captaining his side to the title with a match-winning century in the final is hard to ignore.

Kishan did exactly that in the build-up to the squad announcement, leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while topping the run charts for the tournament.

He smashed 517 runs at an average of 57.44 and a stunning strike rate of 197.32, including two centuries, the second of which came two days before the squad announcement in the tournament final.

Kishan’s inclusion also helps India cover multiple bases. With Gill missing out and Samson set to open, Kishan provides a like-for-like backup at the top of the order while also offering a wicketkeeping option.

“Two keepers at the top (Sanju Samson & Ishan Kishan), that's the way we want to try and the team management will eventually decide what kind of combinations they want to play. It’s about combinations, so someone has to miss out, and unfortunately, it is Gill at this point,” Agarkar said.

India go back to Rinku Singh for finisher

With Shubman Gill replacing Sanju Samson as the opener, the wicketkeeper was shifted down the order as India aimed to use his explosive hitting capabilities to finish off innings. However, his modest returns in that role meant that Jitesh Sharma replaced him as a designated finisher after a stellar IPL campaign saw him play the same role.

Jitesh Sharma played a total of seven games since his return to the starting XI in the Australia series but largely struggled to make a lasting impact. In the five innings he batted in he managed to accumulate only 87 runs with a top score of 27* as he largely batted at the tail of an innings.

Rinku Singh, who was left out of the squad for the Australia and South Africa T20Is, has been recalled and handed the finisher’s role. With wicketkeeping duties set to be shared between Samson and Kishan, India have opted to prioritise Rinku’s explosive hitting ability to close out games.

The 28-year-old has featured in 35 T20Is and boasts an impressive strike rate of 161.76. His impact is even more pronounced in the death overs, where his strike rate soars to 196.34, an asset India will look to maximise as they aim to defend their title.

Focus on flexibility and combinations

India’s 15-man squad offers the defending champions significant flexibility, allowing them to field multiple combinations aimed at maximising both conditions and team strengths. The balance within the squad gives India the freedom to adapt their XI based on opposition and pitch demands.

Having a wicketkeeper open the innings provides added versatility, enabling India to play an extra all-rounder or specialist batter. Both Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are comfortable opening the batting and can also slot in at No.3 or No.4 if required, further strengthening the team’s balance.

Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav are set to occupy the No.3 and No.4 positions, bringing the ability to shift gears seamlessly, either accelerating when needed or stabilising the innings after early wickets. The group of Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh supplies the firepower to post big totals, while also offering crucial bowling depth, with all except Rinku capable of contributing with the ball.

The abundance of all-rounders allows India to select their bowling attack based on conditions. With options across both spin and pace, the team can rotate its bowlers accordingly, opting for frontline spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav on turning tracks, or deploying a three-man pace attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana on seam-friendly surfaces.