India has announced Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, aiming to become the first team to defend their title successfully.
The tournament, co-hosted by India, will begin on February 7, 2026, and the hosts are targeting their record third T20 World Cup crown.
Yadav will lead the side in his first ICC tournament as captain, with Axar Patel appointed as his deputy. Star batter Shubman Gill has been dropped following underwhelming performances since his return to the T20I setup in September. Another notable omission is Jitesh Sharma, who played in recent T20Is against South Africa.
The 15-member squad features a mix of experience and youth: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh.
Fiery opener Abhishek Sharma, boasting a T20 strike rate of 188.02, is expected to partner with Sanju Samson at the top. Ishan Kishan, returning to the national side after 2023, is included as backup opener and wicket-keeper, rewarded for his stellar campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 517 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57.44 and strike rate of 197.32.
Selectors emphasized team combinations as a key factor behind Gill’s omission. “Two keepers at the top and depth lower down the order are part of our strategy,” said Ajit Agarkar, India’s selector.
The middle order boasts experienced players like Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh, while Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the pace attack with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Pandya, complemented by spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
India heads into the T20 World Cup 2026 with a balanced squad blending power-hitting, spin options, and experienced bowlers, aiming to defend their title successfully on home soil.