Mumbai

Suryakumar Yadav will lead a 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, with Shubman Gill left out due to fitness and form concerns, while all-rounder Axar Patel has been named vice-captain.

The squad was announced on Saturday by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia at the board’s headquarters in the presence of captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

Explaining Gill’s omission, Agarkar said India was exploring alternate combinations at the top of the order, while reiterating that Gill remains a “champion player”. Gill missed the fifth T20I against South Africa due to a foot injury and managed 291 runs in 15 T20Is since his return, without a half-century.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have been confirmed as India’s opening pair, while wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returns to the squad following a prolific Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. Kishan scored 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44, helping Jharkhand clinch their maiden SMAT title.

Rinku Singh also makes a comeback, strengthening a middle order that includes Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will handle spin duties, while Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

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India squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20I series:
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk).