With India already holding the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ICC Men’s ODI Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, the focus now shifts to defending their T20 crown at home. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to officially begin that journey on Saturday, December 20, when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announces the Indian squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The BCCI will name a 15-member squad, which will also double up as India’s team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. With the World Cup just weeks away and no room for large-scale changes, and the announcement would carry little to no surprises. India have kept the same bunch of players in the format, enjoying a win percentage of 84 in 2025, the best among all full member nations.
India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement: Date, Time, Venue
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (India & Sri Lanka)
- India squad announcement date: December 20, Saturday
- Announcement time (IST): 1:00 PM IST
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Likely squad size: 15 players with 4 reserves
- Selectors present: Ajit Agarkar and Captain Suryakumar Yadav
T20 World Cup & IND vs NZ squads to be identical
India’s T20 World Cup squad will also be used for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled from January 21 to January 31. With no time for a major turnaround between the bilateral series and the World Cup, the selectors have opted for continuity.
According to ICC rules, teams must announce their squads at least 30 days before the tournament, giving India time until January 8. However, naming the squad early allows clarity and preparation while still leaving room for injury replacements with ICC approval.
There are unlikely to be major surprises. Shubman Gill’s form remains the biggest discussion point, but his role as vice-captain means the BCCI is expected to back him. Debates could also revolve around Washington Sundar vs Rinku Singh, especially with head coach Gautam Gambhir preferring all-round depth.
India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement: Live streaming details
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2 Hindi)
Stay tuned to this space for live updates, reactions, and the full squad list as India officially begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
India’s T20 World Cup squad (likely)
- Shubman Gill (vc)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Washington Sundar/Nitish Kumar Reddy
India’s schedule for T20 World Cup 2026
| Match | Date | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs USA | February 8 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Group |
| India vs Namibia | February 12 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Group |
| India vs Pakistan | February 15 | R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo | Group |
| India vs Netherlands | February 18 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Group |
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