3 players India should have picked for the T20 series vs England & Ireland 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)on Saturday (6th June) announced a major overhaul of its T20I setup, appointing Shreyas Iyer as the new captain of the Indian men's T20I team. The decision, revealed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar at the board headquarters, marked the end of Suryakumar Yadav's leadership stint after a prolonged dip in form resulted in his exclusion from the squad.

Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain for India's upcoming white-ball assignments, which include a two-match T20I series in Ireland followed by a five-match T20I series in England starting on June 26. The selectors heavily rewarded standout performers from IPL 2026, with 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earning his maiden national call-up alongside emerging pacer Prince Yadav.

The selection committee finalised a 16-member squad for the tour of the United Kingdom. The omission of Suryakumar Yadav, despite his previous contributions as captain, highlights the selectors' clear shift towards younger and in-form players who impressed during the recently concluded IPL season.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion comes after a sensational campaign in domestic cricket and the IPL, making him the youngest player ever selected for India's senior men's team. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management plans, creating opportunities for fast bowlers such as Harshit Rana and Prince Yadav.

While several IPL 2026 stars have been rewarded with places in the squad, a few standout performers were surprisingly overlooked despite enjoying exceptional seasons. In this article, we take a look at three players who delivered brilliant performances in IPL 2026 but failed to secure a spot in Shreyas Iyer's T20I squad for the England and Ireland tour.

3. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya stands third on this list, and a strong argument can be made that he played a major role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s success as they lifted the IPL trophy for a second consecutive time. Known for constantly evolving in the fast-changing T20 format, Krunal is not a conventional left-arm orthodox spinner. Instead, he has developed his game by adding new variations and adapting smartly to remain effective against modern-day batters.

Fresh off a sensational back-to-back IPL title win with RCB and his overall fifth IPL trophy, Krunal delivered a strong all-round season. In IPL 2026, he played 16 matches, scoring 226 runs at an average of 37.67 and a strike rate of 145.81. With the ball, he picked up 14 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 8.42, underlining his value as a reliable all-rounder in pressure situations.

See also -Watch: Krunal Pandya's savage '5 trophies' gesture sparks hilarious reaction from Virat Kohli after RCB win IPL 2026 Final

At the international level, Krunal Pandya has featured in 19 T20Is, scoring 124 runs in 10 innings with a top score of 26 not out at a strike rate of 130.52. As a bowler, he has taken 15 wickets in T20Is, with best figures of 4/36 and an economy rate of 8.10. His ability to contribute in both departments continues to make him a valuable asset in T20 cricket.

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The exclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar from India's T20I squad for the England and Ireland tour came as a major surprise, especially after the veteran pacer enjoyed an outstanding IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. At a time when the selectors have emphasised rewarding players based on IPL performances, Bhuvneshwar's omission has raised several questions.

The experienced fast bowler picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches, making him one of the leading wicket-takers of the tournament. He finished with an excellent average of 17.89 and an economy rate of 7.95. His best figures of 4/23 highlighted his ability to break partnerships and deliver in pressure situations. Throughout the season, Bhuvneshwar remained a key weapon for RCB with both the new ball and at the death.

See also -Watch: Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s double-wicket over stuns DC during IPL 2026 clash vs RCB

What makes his omission even more surprising is the fact that he was India's last specialist swing bowler to enjoy sustained success in T20Is. When he last played for India in 2022, Bhuvneshwar featured in 31 T20Is and claimed 37 wickets at an average of 19.6 and an economy rate of 6.98. His best figures of 5/4 underlined his match-winning ability, while his control and consistency made him one of India's most dependable bowlers in the format.

With 90 T20I wickets to his name and years of international experience, Bhuvneshwar appeared to be a strong candidate for a recall, especially given his exceptional IPL form. However, despite producing one of his finest IPL seasons in recent years, the veteran pacer was overlooked as the selectors opted to back younger fast-bowling options for the upcoming tour.

1. Rajat Patidar

Another player who can consider himself unlucky to miss out on the T20I squad is Rajat Patidar. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain enjoyed a memorable IPL 2026 season, leading his team to their maiden IPL title while also delivering consistently with the bat. Given his leadership success and impressive performances throughout the tournament, many expected Patidar to earn a place in India's squad for the England and Ireland tour.

Patidar scored 501 runs in 15 matches at an average of 41.75 and a stunning strike rate of 192.69. His highest score of 93 in Qualifier 1 not out showcased his ability to dominate bowling attacks and finish games under pressure. The right-handed batter also registered five half-centuries during the season, smashing 30 fours and 42 sixes. His aggressive approach and ability to accelerate the scoring rate made him one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in IPL 2026.

See also -Mo Bobat reveals who transformed Rajat Patidar into RCB's biggest match-winner in IPL 2026

Apart from his batting exploits, Patidar impressed with his captaincy as he guided RCB to their first-ever IPL trophy. Leading from the front, he played a crucial role in transforming the team into championship winners. Despite combining strong leadership with exceptional batting performances, the RCB skipper failed to secure a spot in India's T20I squad, making him one of the most notable omissions from the team announced by the selectors.

Notable Mentions

The players mentioned above arguably had the strongest cases for selection based on their performances in IPL 2026. However, they were not the only standout performers who missed out on India's T20I squad for the England and Ireland tour. While the selectors rewarded young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his extraordinary season of 776 runs and an Orange Cap-winning campaign, several other players also produced impressive numbers and could have been considered for selection.

Among them were India's current Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who scored 732 runs in IPL 2026, KL Rahul with 593 runs, Devdutt Padikkal with 464 runs, and Yashasvi Jaiswal with 427 runs. Rinku Singh also enjoyed a decent season, scoring 295 runs in the middle order, while pacer Rashikh Dar impressed with 19 wickets. Their performances highlighted the depth of talent available and showed just how competitive the race for places in India's T20I squad has become.

Ultimately, squad selection is never an easy task, especially when several players deliver outstanding performances in the IPL. While the selectors opted to back a younger and more aggressive group for the upcoming England and Ireland series, the likes of Rajat Patidar, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and several others can count themselves unfortunate to have missed out. If they continue to perform at the same level, they are likely to remain firmly in contention for future opportunities in India's T20I setup.