India announce new squad for 2026 T20 WC following senior retirements

DEC.21 (Mirror Sports) - India have unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. The defending champions will head into the marquee event with a refreshed lineup, with several big names from the 2024 title-winning squad missing.

• Major changes from the 2024 World Cup-winning squad

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja — central figures in India’s T20 success — have retired from T20 Internationals and will not feature in the 2026 squad.

Opening star Yashasvi Jaiswal, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, spin ace Yuzvendra Chahal and pacer Mohammed Siraj are among the notable omissions from the title-defending team.

• New and returning faces in 2026
• Selectors have named seven players who were not part of the 2024 squad:

Abhishek Sharma — explosive opener
Ishan Kishan - wicketkeeper-batter recalled after strong domestic form
Tilak Varma - dynamic middle-order batter
Rinku Singh - proven death-overs finisher
Washington Sundar - all-round option
Harshit Rana - emerging fast-bowling prospect
Varun Chakravarthy - specialist spinner

• Squad stability and leadership changes

Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in his first ICC tournament as captain, while Axar Patel has been appointed vice-captain for the event.

Shubman Gill, previously a key member and vice-captain in bilateral T20Is, was left out of the 15-member squad — a major talking point following the announcement.

• Balanced mix of experience and youth

The squad retains experienced performers such as Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, while injecting fresh energy through players rewarded for strong domestic and franchise performances.

With India aiming to become the first nation to defend a T20 World Cup title on home soil, this revamped squad sets the stage for a compelling title defence early next year.