India’s expected Playing XI for 2026 T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) became the first team to announce the 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, beginning on February 07 where the Blue Brigade will play their opening clash against the United States of America at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India has retained nearly the same playing squad for the competition with only a few changes. Shubman Gill has been left out of the squad, with Ishan Kishan making his way into the team, just like Rinku Singh, who replaced Jitesh Sharma.

India’s squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.

A look at India’s expected playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Here is the expected playing XI for India in T20 World Cup 2026-

Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson

India is almost certain to open with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in the T20I side. The latter will perhaps wear the wicket-keeping gloves, something which the management wants as a combination in the eleven.

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Abhishek has been in top notch in the T20Is since his debut with 1115 runs at an average of 35.96 and a strike rate of 188.02 with the help of six fifties and two centuries. Samson, on the other hand, has grabbed 1032 T20I runs in 44 innings at an average of 25.80 and a strike rate of 148.06, thanks to three fifties and as many centuries at the best score of 111.

Middle order: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya

Tilak Varma has been confirmed to bat at three for India in the shortest format of the game. The southpaw contributed massively in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan with an unbeaten knock in the chase. Varma has smashed 1183 runs in 37 T20I innings at an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09 with the help of five fifties and two centuries.

Their captain, Suryakumar, is perhaps not in great touch of late, with no fifties in 2025. However, he has an amazing overall T20I record with 2788 runs in 93 innings at an average of 35.29 and a strike rate of 163.23 with 21 fifties and four centuries.

Just like every event, Hardik Pandya, at number five, will again continue to be the most important member of the eleven. The right-handed batter recently blasted a 16-ball fifty against South Africa and has amassed 2002 T20I runs at a strike rate of 143.51 and picked 101 wickets at an economy of 8.29.

Lower Order: Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh

Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh are two other vital members of the eleven. The former can offer a few overs with the ball if needed in the middle, while Rinku Singh, out of nowhere, has got his place back in the T20I squad.

Rinku’s last game was the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan when he smashed a boundary on his only ball. The Uttar Pradesh batter has overall smacked 550 runs in 25 T20I innings at a strike rate of 161.76 with three fifties.

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, will pair up with Jasprit Bumrah for the new ball bowling. The former is the leading wicket-taker for India in the shortest format with 110 scalps in 71 innings at an average of 18.90 and an economy rate of 8.40, thanks to two four-wicket hauls.

Jasprit Bumrah has the skill to bat at any position in the game. The Ahmedabad-born has overall 103 wickets in 80 T20I innings at an average of 18.17 and a strike rate of 17 with an economy rate of just over six.

Varun Chakravarthy will be the front-runner spinner of the eleven over Kuldeep Yadav. In just 31 innings, the mystery spinner has picked up 55 wickets at an average of under 15 and a strike rate of 12.80 with an economy rate of under seven.

India’s expected playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk.), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vc), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.