India Squad for New Zealand T20Is and 2026 T20 World Cup

In a shock move, India has made the bold call to drop vice-captain Shubman Gill from their 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup in 2026. The move is in keeping with a late change to team strategy, as management prefers to have a wicketkeeper up top anyway, to achieve slimmer combinations. In the ultimate analysis, Ishan Kishan has been called back into the side following a fabulous Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performance, having scored 517 runs at a strike rate of almost 200 to emerge as the top run-getter in the tournament.

Kishan’s addition as an opener’s choice enabled India to recall Rinku Singh to the T20 squad, even though he has not been a part of the recent T20I squads either. But it also meant that Jitesh Sharma, who was India U-19s’ wicketkeeper in the recent series, couldn’t make the cut. Axar Patel has been made the vice-captain in place of Gill.

Below that, the selection shaped up as expected for the most part. India has picked three frontline fast bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, two of whom are likely to feature in the playing XI. The spin will be manned by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in complement as second spinners and all-rounders.

The middle-order also appears to be strong and power-packed, with captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh. Seam-bowling all-rounders for balance. While the pace-bowling all-rounder’s slot has Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, who will both provide a balance to the side in batting as well as bowling. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan form the batting contingent, thus leaving them with few top-order options.

Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the selection committee, said Gill’s exclusion had nothing to do with his form or ability, but that it was a decision taken keeping in view team balance. The management just felt that a wicket-keeper batsman would bring more solidity up the order, and it gives the team more options when it comes to combinations. Agarkar said with only 15 spots, someone had to miss out despite being a good player.

Gill has not been able to capitalise on starts in T20Is, with 291 runs accrued at the top of the order across 15 innings without a half-century. He was already sidelined with a foot injury for India’s final T20I against South Africa, in which Sanju Samson made 37 from 22 balls. While those numbers appear fine, Suryakumar Yadav was quick to say that Form has nothing to do with the decision, as it is now a Few months remaining for the World T20 and it depends on who among the players has the best combination will support the team in winning the World Cup.

India’s Squad for NZ T20Is and T20 World Cup 2026