India Unveils Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 with Surya Kumar Yadav as Captain

The stage is set for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to kick off on February 7. Ahead of the tournament, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian team, with Surya Kumar Yadav taking on the captaincy role. Veteran all-rounder Axar Patel has been appointed as the vice-captain, and the squad also includes players like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya.

Previously, Shubman Gill held the vice-captain position. As Gill has not participated in many T20 matches lately, it is natural for Axar to resume this role. Notably, Shubman Gill has not been included in the squad. Interestingly, India aims to become the first team to defend its title as the reigning champions of the T20 World Cup. It is important to note that prominent players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja will not be part of the team, as all three have retired from cricket after leading the team to victory in 2024. The absence of these experienced stars will make India's performance in the upcoming World Cup particularly intriguing.

Regarding the schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian team will commence its campaign against the USA. The match is set to take place on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following this, they will face Namibia on February 12 in Delhi.

 

The Indian team for T20 World Cup 2026 includes: Surya Kumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah.