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New Delhi: The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 has been announced, with Suryakumar Yadav set to lead a 15-member team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified why no standby or reserve players have been named for the tournament. No Standby Players for the Home TournamentTraditionally, ICC events include standby or reserve players who can replace injured squad members during the tournament. In the last T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan were named as standby players. Similarly, for the Champions Trophy, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Siraj, and Shivam Dubey were on standby. However, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia explained during a press conference that for this T20 World Cup, which is being held in India, the board has cho...

Mumbai: The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 has been announced, with Suryakumar Yadav leading a 15-member team. The tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will begin on 7 February. While some selections were widely anticipated, a few notable players have surprisingly missed out despite having proven match-winning capabilities. Here are 5 key players left out of the squad: 1. Yashasvi JaiswalJaiswal has scored 723 runs in 22 T20 International innings for India, averaging 36 with a strike rate of 164. He was the backup opener in the last T20 World Cup but has been surprisingly dropped this time. 2. Mohammad SirajSiraj was part of India’s previous T20 World Cup-winning squad and featured in the early matches. However, due to pitch conditions in the West Indies leg...

New Delhi: The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 has been announced, bringing with it some surprising changes. Star players Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma have been left out, while Ishan Kishan makes a sensational return to the team after a gap of nearly two years. Ishan Kishan Shines in SMAT 2025Kishan’s comeback is a result of his outstanding performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025. Leading Jharkhand as captain, he scored 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of nearly 200, including a century in the final. His exceptional form made his inclusion in the World Cup squad inevitable after long-standing public demand. Must Prove Himself in Upcoming SeriesHowever, Kishan’s place in the T20 World Cup squad is not yet guaranteed. Team selecto...

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side, while Shubman Gill has been dropped following a string of low scores since his comeback in the Asia Cup. Changes and Key ReturnsShubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma have been left out of the squad. In their place, Axar Patel has been named vice-captain, and Ishan Kishan makes a comeback after a stellar performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led Jharkhand to the title and scored a century in the final. Kishan will serve as a backup wicketkeeper and an opening option. Rinku Singh, who was sidelined during the South Africa series, also returns to the squad. O...

The BCCI selection committee is set to announce India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 today, Saturday, 20 December 2025. Reports suggest that this may be Suryakumar Yadav’s last tournament as captain, as the 35-year-old has been out of form for nearly 14 months and 24 matches. According to insiders, Yadav currently retains his place in the team primarily due to his captaincy. Had the tournament been scheduled six months later, selectors might have considered other leadership options. Form Concerns for Captain and Vice-CaptainSelectors’ primary concern is the current form of captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill. Both key batsmen have struggled to score runs in recent matches. While Gill’s place has been questioned repeatedly, in-form youngsters like Yashasv...

For Indian cricket fans, today is a landmark moment as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starting on 7 February, with the final scheduled for 8 March. Selectors’ Meeting UnderwayChief selector Ajit Agarkar, along with team captain Suryakumar Yadav, attended the BCCI headquarters for the squad finalization. The meeting, originally scheduled to start earlier, was slightly delayed as Yadav could not reach Mumbai from Ahmedabad on time. Secretary Devjit Saikia was also present alongside the selectors. Preparation for New ChallengesTo prepare for the T20 World Cup, India will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series on 21, 23, 25, 28, and 31 January. Th...

Australian captain Pat Cummins made a remarkable comeback in the Ashes series, showcasing his all-round impact with both the ball and leadership. On the fourth day of the Adelaide Test, Cummins dismissed three key England batsmen—Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root—helping Australia dominate the match. 150 Wickets as CaptainWith the wicket of Ollie Pope, Cummins reached a landmark of 150 Test wickets as captain. He first led Australia in Tests in 2021, and becoming a fast-bowling captain in the longest format is a rare feat. This was Cummins’ 38th Test as captain, and he has taken 151 wickets in 69 innings. Cricket Australia entrusted him with captaincy after Tim Paine stepped down, and he has lived up to expectations. Only Imran Khan Has MoreCummins is now only the second player i...

For Indian cricket fans, today is a landmark day as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to officially announce the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, presenting Team India with a golden opportunity to defend their title. After becoming champions in 2024, the Indian team will now take the field under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, infused with fresh energy and a new vision. ICC Regulations on Squad AnnouncementAccording to ICC rules, all participating nations must submit their final 15-member squad at least one month before the start of a major tournament. With the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to begin on 7 February, all teams are required to submit their initial squad by early January. BCCI’s ...

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya produced a sensational performance against South Africa in the fifth T20, smashing a 50 in just 16 balls to break Yuvraj Singh’s record. Playing a blistering innings of 63 runs off 25 balls, Pandya also contributed with the ball, picking up a crucial wicket. Record-Breaking PerformancePandya’s explosive knock is now the second-fastest T20 half-century by an Indian. His 25-ball innings included five sixes and five fours, propelling India to a massive 231/5 in their 20 overs. With his all-round performance, Pandya left an indelible mark on the game and was deservedly named Player of the Match. This innings also marked the fourth occasion in international T20 cricket where Pandya scored a fifty and took at least one wicket in the same match, surpassing Y...

Following India’s thrilling victory over South Africa in the fifth T20 match, Hardik Pandya celebrated his record-breaking innings with exuberance. Pandya revealed that he only realized the magnitude of his achievement—scoring one of India’s fastest T20 half-centuries in just 16 balls—after returning to the pavilion. Social media team members informed him of the milestone, to which he humorously remarked, “Oh no, I just missed becoming number one!” He immediately added that he was thrilled to see the record still credited to the legendary Yuvraj Singh. A Promise Kept: First-Ball SixPandya shared the secret behind his fearless batting approach. Before walking to the crease, he had promised his girlfriend that he would attempt a six off the very first ball. Confident in his ability and th...