The BCCI has unveiled India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played across India and Sri Lanka in February–March. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side, despite a challenging year with the bat, thanks to his strong leadership record in T20Is.

The squad selection threw up a few talking points. Shubman Gill has been left out, while Ishan Kishan has earned a recall after a sensational Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. Jitesh Sharma has also made way for finisher Rinku Singh.

Interestingly, five members of the 2026 squad were also part of India’s disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE. Here’s a closer look at those players and how their journeys have evolved since then.

1. Ishan Kishan

Many fans may have forgotten that Ishan Kishan was part of India’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad. He played just one match during that campaign and was dismissed for four against New Zealand in Dubai, falling to Trent Boult while opening the innings.

Fast forward to 2025–26, and Kishan has forced his way back with sheer weight of runs. He finished as the leading run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, smashing 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a staggering strike rate of 197.32, including two centuries. One of those hundreds came in the final, underlining his big-match temperament. With the 2026 World Cup at home, Kishan will be eager to rewrite his T20 World Cup story.

2. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was still finding his feet in international cricket when he played his first T20 World Cup in 2021. Having debuted earlier that year, he featured in four matches and scored 42 runs across three innings, showing glimpses of his flair but without a defining knock.

Now India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar enters the 2026 event under pressure after a lean run in 2025, where he managed just 218 runs in 19 innings. Despite the dip in form, his leadership credentials and past match-winning ability remain key reasons for the selectors backing him.

3. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya was a member of the 2021 squad but was not at full fitness during the tournament. He played all five matches, scoring 69 runs at a strike rate of 153.33, including a blistering unbeaten 35 off 13 balls against Afghanistan. However, he bowled only two overs in the entire competition due to fitness concerns.

ALSO SEE: Indian ODI World Cup-winning star appointed as Delhi Capitals captain for WPL 2026

Since then, Pandya has re-established himself as one of India’s most important all-rounders. A vital cog in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, he heads into the 2026 edition in good rhythm and will be crucial for balance and finishing power.

4. Jasprit Bumrah

Even in India’s disappointing 2021 campaign, Jasprit Bumrah stood out. The pace spearhead picked up seven wickets in five matches at an average of 13.57 and an economy of just 5.08, delivering consistently with the new ball and at the death.

Bumrah’s stature has only grown since then. He was named Player of the Tournament in India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup, claiming 15 wickets at a remarkable average of 8.26. Once again, he will be India’s biggest weapon with the ball in 2026.

5. Varun Chakaravarthy

Varun Chakaravarthy’s 2021 T20 World Cup was one to forget. He went wicketless in three matches and conceded 71 runs in 11 overs, after which he was dropped from the national setup.

The mystery spinner, however, has scripted an impressive comeback. Strong IPL performances paved the way for his return to the T20I side, and he recently starred as Player of the Series against South Africa, taking 10 wickets in four matches. From being a 2021 setback, Chakaravarthy now shapes up as a genuine X-factor for India in 2026.

A video has gone viral from the premier Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who has dropped a video call with a super fan through the ICC Super System app ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, which is going to begin in the first week of February next year. Bumrah is going to be a vital member of the tournament for the Blue Brigade in defending their title.

The Ahmedabad-bowler recently featured in the 5th T20I of the five-match series against South Africa at home, where he finished with a fine bowling figure of 2/17 in 4 overs at an economy rate of 4.2. It was the contest where India managed 231 runs in the first innings before South Africa made a fantastic start in the chase, before losing the plot, but still able to stretch it to 201.

See Also: Why is Shubman Gill dropped from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad?

In Indian conditions where dew is likely to be a main factor in February and March, especially in defending in the shortest form, Bumrah’s four, including two at the death overs, will be incredibly essential for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side.

Jasprit Bumrah drops video call with superfan

Bumrah is currently the second leading wicket taker in the shortest format for India with the help of 103 wickets in 80 innings at an average of 18.17 and the strike rate of 17.04 with an economy rate of just over 6 at the best figures of 347 in an innings.

Watch the video here: 

Just dropping in on a video call like a Superfan 😉

Find out how this happened and collect the greatest moments in cricket with the ICC Superteam app. You could win signed merch, match tickets, and even meet your heroes!

Pre-register now 👉🏻 https://t.co/5PdAXMR0xh… pic.twitter.com/Sg4Yp7LgG5

— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 21, 2025

Along with Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer of the Indian side, will also need to play a massive role with the new ball inside the power play to pick early wickets to put the shackles on the opponent’s side’s batting lineup, which will only help their spinners to make more contributions in the middle overs.

India’s spin department is already strong in the presence of vice-captain Axar Patel, the premier mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Their opening clash of the tournament will be against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

After the conclusion of the India vs. South Africa multi-format series, focus will be gradually shifted to the upcoming India vs. New Zealand limited-overs series, where these two teams will collide for a 3-match ODI series and a 5-match T20I series. The T20I series is going to be very crucial for both of the teams because of the T20I World Cup, which is scheduled to start in February next year. 

Ahead of the New Zealand series, some major updates regarding Team India have arrived. For the 50-over series, the team management can send some of their key players for rest. 

According to reports, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pacer Jasprit Bumrah can be rested for the three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand. The ODI series will start on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by the matches in Rajkot and Indore, respectively. 

Read More: Watch: Sanju Samson gifted his gloves to 2 kids after IND vs SA 5th T20I

Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya can be rested for India vs New Zealand ODI series 

Team India won the T20I series against South Africa through a comfortable win in Ahmedabad. In the series, Hardik Pandya appeared as one of the most informed players for the Men in Blue. In multiple matches, Pandya proved his mettle with some blistering batting. On the other side, Bumrah's form came with a little bit of concern, as he proved costly in the 2nd T20I. Though, he bounced back and played a pivotal role during the 5th match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The management is yet to take a final call on the workload management of these two players. 

IND vs NZ 2026 3-Match ODI Series Schedule:

1st ODI: January 11, 2026 (Sunday) - Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara - 1:30 PM (IST)

2nd ODI: January 14, 2026 (Wednesday) - Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot - 1:30 PM (IST)

3rd ODI: January 18, 2026 (Sunday) - Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore - 1:30 PM (IST)

Indian cricket team fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was involved in an uncomfortable moment with a fan at the airport while standing in the check-in line. A video of the incident is now going viral on social media. In the clip, a fan is seen recording a selfie video with Bumrah despite the pacer asking him to be careful.

Bumrah warned the fan that his phone might fall and break, but the fan continued recording. After repeated warnings, Bumrah finally took the phone away for a brief moment. The incident did not turn serious, but it showed Bumrah’s frustration after the fan refused to stop filming.

Here is what was said during the exchange:
Fan: “Aapke saath hi jaunga sir main.” [I’ll go with you only, sir]
Bumrah: “Phone gir gaya aapka to mereko bolna nahi.” [If your phone falls, don’t blame me]
Fan: “Koi baat nahi sir.” [That’s okay, sir]

Thick Fog Forces Abandonment of India vs South Africa 4th T20I in Lucknow

Earlier on Wednesday, the fourth T20I between India and South Africa was called off at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow due to heavy fog and poor visibility. Umpires Rohan Pandit and KN Ananthapadmanabhan delayed the toss and carried out several inspections before finally abandoning the match at 9:30 pm.

Watch the video here

What an arrogant behavior by Jasprit Bumrah. First he threatened his fan that he would throw his phone, and later he snatched the fan's phone. pic.twitter.com/O2e4jSLw7s

— 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 👑 (@Goatlified) December 17, 2025

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli explains why number 18 special for his life

The toss, scheduled for 6:30 pm IST, was first delayed to 6:50 pm. Further inspections took place at 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, and 9:00 pm. At one of the inspections, umpires decided to test the visibility by standing in various areas of the stadium to see whether the ball was visible from the floodlights. Since the visibility was not improving, the match was abandoned.

India remains 2–1 ahead in the five-match series and cannot lose the trophy. The final T20I will be played on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India vice-captain Shubman Gill will be hoping to recover from a foot injury ahead of the match, but his fitness could open the door for Sanju Samson to feature in the playing XI. Hardik Pandya was also seen wearing a face mask during warm-ups, highlighting concerns over the hazardous air quality, which crossed 400 in Lucknow.

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has etched his name into the history books by becoming the highest-rated Indian bowler in ICC Men’s T20I rankings. In the latest update released on Wednesday, December 17, Chakravarthy retained the No.1 spot with a career-best rating of 818 points, surpassing Jasprit Bumrah’s long-standing Indian record.

Bumrah previously held the benchmark with a rating of 783, achieved in February 2017 after his sensational 3/14 against England. Varun has now comfortably gone past that mark, underlining his rise as one of the most dominant bowlers in modern T20 cricket.

Highest Bowler Ratings in Men’s T20Is

Chakravarthy first climbed to the top spot during the Asia Cup 2025 and has shown remarkable consistency since then. In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, he has taken six wickets in three matches, including an excellent spell of 2/11 in four overs at Dharamsala, helping India take a 2-1 series lead.

The mystery spinner currently enjoys a massive 119-point lead over second-placed Jacob Duffy of New Zealand. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has also made gains, moving up four places to 16th in the bowling rankings.

India continue to dominate the batting charts as well. Abhishek Sharma remains the No.1 T20I batter with 909 points, while Tilak Varma has climbed to fourth after a consistent series. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has slipped to tenth and will be eager to rediscover form in the fourth T20I at Lucknow.

Varun’s journey makes his achievement even more special. Dropped after a disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup, he reinvented himself through relentless work. With 51 wickets in 32 T20Is and an economy of 6.75, Chakravarthy now stands as India’s biggest weapon heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil.

During the third game of the five-match T20I series between India and South Africa at Dharamsala on Sunday (December 14) night, Indian right-arm pacer Hardik Pandya completed his 100th T20I wicket and created history for India. 

While South Africa were already under pressure after losing the toss and batting at 25/3 at the end of the powerplay, Hardik got his first wicket of the match in his first over, which was just after the powerplay. 

See Also: Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing today in IND vs SA 3rd T20I at Dharamshala?

Hardik Pandya became 3rd Indian to record 100 T20I wickets

It was the back-of-length seam up delivery, where Tristan Stubbs had an edge, and the wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma comfortably grabbed that opportunity, which was the 100th T20I wicket for Hardik Pandya. With that wicket, Hardik became the third Indian bowler to record 100 T20I wickets.

In the first game of the series, where India won by 101 runs, Jasprit Bumrah completed his 100 T20I wickets and became the second Indian to record 100 T20I wickets. During the Asia Cup 2025 group stage match against Oman, Arshdeep Singh became the first Indian to record 100 T20I wickets.

Indian bowlers with 100 T20I wickets

Hardik Pandya creates all-round history during IND vs SA 3rd T20I 

By completing his 100 T20I wickets, Hardik Pandya also became the first Indian to record 1000 runs and 100 wickets in his T20I career. He became the fifth all-rounder in T20I history to record 1000 runs and 100 wickets.

It is time for the third game of the five-match T20I series between India and South Africa at Dharamsala on Sunday (December 14) evening, where many Indian cricket fans were surprised after knowing that Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah were not in the playing XI. While Axar was unavailable for the match due to illness, let's check why Bumrah was missing from the game. 

The T20I series is standing at 1-1, as all the remaining matches are very crucial now for both teams. While the right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is a vital name in the Indian bowling line-up, his absence for the crucial T20I has stunned everyone, especially when there was no previous information on this matter.

Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi dismisses Pakistan skipper during Men's U-19 Asia Cup 2025

Jasprit Bumrah has gone back home for personal reasons

While fans may panic about Bumrah's any sudden fitness issue, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has quickly clarified the situation. After the toss of the Dharamsala T20I, the BCCI confirmed on social media that Bumrah was unavailable due to returning home for personal reasons. The board update further added that his return to the squad would be updated later. 

🚨 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝟐𝟎𝐈: 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚

Axar Patel is unavailable for the third T20I due to illness.

Jasprit Bumrah has gone back home for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the game. An update on him joining the squad for the remaining matches…

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 14, 2025

India chose to bowl first in Dharamsala T20I

Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to field first in the Dharamsala T20I. While India won the first game of the series at Cuttack by 101 runs, South Africa leveled the series at New Chandigarh after winning the match by 51 runs. 

The 2nd T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled to take place on Thursday at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh. In the shortest format of cricket against the Proteas, Team India has maintained their winning momentum. Their bowling unit is the main reason for their win, as they dominated the game from the start. India's top order lost early, but their middle order remained resilient and scored most of the runs.

South Africa started the game with a strong start by removing the top order at an early stage of the game. However, as the game proceeded, their bowlers lost control of the match. Their batting unit performed poorly, and the entire team collapsed under India's bowling attack..

Also Read: ILT20 2025: MIE vs ADKR Dream11 Prediction 11th Match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

IND vs SA Match Details

• Match: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I 

• Date: 11th December 2025

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh 

• Live Streaming: FanCode

IND vs SA Weather Report

IND vs SA Pitch Report

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium has experienced high first-innings totals of 165 to 180 in recent T20 games.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs SA

• Hardik Pandya (IND): 59 runs in this Series 

• Tilak Varma (IND): 26 runs in this Series 

• Dewald Brevis (SA): 22 runs in this Series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs SA

• Lungi Ngidi (SA): 3 wickets in this Series 

• Arshdeep Singh (IND): 2 wickets in this Series 

• Jasprit Bumrah (IND): 2 wickets in this Series 

IND vs SA Recent Form

IND vs SA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 180–190

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If SA Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 150–160

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs SA Predicted Playing XIs

India

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa 

Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

IND vs SA Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

We predict that India will win the 2nd T20I match. The likes of Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs SA Match FAQs

Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah created history in the Cuttack T20I by becoming the second Indian bowler to record 100 T20I wickets. However, it was hugely controversial while Bumrah dismissed Proteas' dangerous Dewald Brevis. 

India completely dominated in the first game of the five-match home T20I series against South Africa, as the hosts thrashed the visitors by 101 runs after bundling the Proteas out for only 74 runs while the chase was a 176-run target. 

All the Indian bowlers dominated against the strong South African batting line-up, as four bowlers claimed two wickets each, including Jasprit Bumrah. 

Watch: Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma smash Lutho Sipamla for 18-run over in IND vs SA 1st T20I

Jasprit Bumrah completed 100 T20I wickets after dismissing Dewald Brevis

Bumrah couldn't take wickets in the powerplay, although he bowled really well. He ultimately claimed wickets in the 11th over of the innings, where the right-arm pacer got two wickets. By dismissing Dewald Brevis for 22 off 14, Bumrah completed his 100th T20I wicket. 

Boom boom, Bumrah! 🤩😎

Wicket number 100 in T20Is for #JaspritBumrah! Simply inevitable 👏🇮🇳#INDvSA, 1st T20I, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/tqu4j7Svcm pic.twitter.com/MuSZfrfh3L

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 9, 2025

Although the catch was clear, it was a controversial dismissal, as later the replay showed there was no evidence of Bumrah's foot inside the bowling crease. In fact, the bowling end camera clarified that it wasn't a legal delivery. Although the third umpire initially tried to check the no ball, he quite shockingly gave it to the bowling team's favour.

Jasprit Bumrah: 5th bowler to record 100 wickets in every international format

After Arshdeep Singh, who has now picked up 107 T20I wickets after the Cuttack T20I, Bumrah became the second Indian to record 100 T20I wickets. Bumrah ended the game with 101 T20I wickets after dismissing Keshav Maharaj in the same over. 

Meanwhile, Bumrah also became the fifth bowler to record 100 wickets in every format of international cricket. 

• Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
• Tim Southee (New Zealand)
• Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
• Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
• Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell named five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) as his toughest opponent in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after announcing his retirement. The Caribbean star was released by KKR before the 2026 auction and has now joined the team’s backroom staff as the new Power Coach.

Russell has struggled against Mumbai Indians throughout his IPL career. He averaged only 18.57 with the bat in 19 matches against them, which is his lowest batting average against any team he has played at least 10 times. Half of his 16 innings versus MI ended in single-digit scores, including a golden duck in the 2019 season.

With the ball, Russell has done better. He has taken 19 wickets against MI at an average of 24.68 and an economy rate of 9.67.

Also Read -Major update on ownership of Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026

Russell Names MI and Bumrah as His Toughest IPL Challenges

"I enjoy playing against most teams. There will always be challenges, but this particular team — Mumbai Indians — always gives us a fight, whether they come to Kolkata or when we go to the Wankhede. We know we are going into a battle," Andre Russell told Cricbuzz.

He also named MI pacer Jasprit Bumrah as the most challenging bowler he has faced in the IPL. "One of the most challenging bowlers I have come up against is Jasprit Bumrah. As soon as I come in to bat, most of the time they give him the ball. He has got me out a few times, but I have also enjoyed hitting him for a few boundaries. I love those challenges. I'm not the kind of player who says I will just play him out. I like taking on challenges. He is one of the best in the world right now — maybe the best T20 fast bowler. So that challenge was always special," Russell added.

Russell has lost his wicket to Bumrah four times in the IPL, starting in 2018 at the Wankhede Stadium. Bumrah dismissed him twice in the 2020 season as well.

The all-rounder has scored 57 runs off 45 balls against Bumrah, including two sixes, at a strike rate of 126.66.

Russell on Becoming KKR’s New ‘Power Coach’

After retiring from international cricket and the IPL, Andre Russell has moved into coaching. His first role will be with KKR, where he has been named the new Power Coach.

KKR have made several changes to their staff after parting ways with Chandrakant Pandit. Russell will work alongside his former West Indies teammate Dwayne Bravo, who has joined as the franchise mentor.

"To be honest, when I heard that name from Mr. Venky (Mysore, the CEO), I said, hmm, that describes Dre Russ perfectly. The power I bring while batting, the energy I show in the field and with the ball — the name fits: POWER COACH," Russell said.

Russell will play an important role in KKR’s rebuild under head coach Abhishek Nayar and captain Ajinkya Rahane. The three-time champions enter the auction with the biggest purse and are expected to target several big names.