Countdown to T20 World Cup 2026 begins with Asia Cup 2025 squad selection

Want it or not, India Cricket Team will play in the Asia Cup 2025. And with that, the countdown to T20 World Cup 2026 begins. Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India will begin preparations for the T20 World Cup in February at the Asia Cup. While India still have six months to go, with no IPL before the T20 WC, a minimum of 18 T20I matches will provide the answer to the India squad. As head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar pick the squad for Asia Cup on Aug 19, it will be the first chopping block where some of the players will be assessed before settling on the final squad for T20 WC.

While the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer are unlikely for the Asia Cup, it won’t be the end of the road for them. Instead, the three five-match T20I series against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand will serve as the final stretch of the squad selection process for the T20 World Cup. The number of matches could increase to a maximum of 22 if India qualify for the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 and the final.

Unlike the Test and ODI squads, Team India are spoilt for choice in the T20 format. Over a dozen players are competing for the Top 5 spots, while at least half a dozen cricketers are in the fray for the No 6, 7 and 8. However, the bowling department looks settled with no room for newcomers.

Players in the fray for T20 World Cup

Confirmed	Most Likely	Tough competition	Need to step up	No chance
Suryakumar Yadav	Tilak Varma	KL Rahul	Ravi Bishnoi	Yuzvendra Chahal
Jasprit Bumrah	Abhishek Sharma	Shreyas Iyer	Shivam Dube	Mohd Shami
Arshdeep Singh	Jitesh Sharma	Yashasvi Jaiswal	Harshit Rana	Mayank Yadav
Hardik Pandya	Sanju Samson	Mohd Siraj	Ruturaj Gaikwad
Shubman Gill	Prasidh Krishna	Sai Sudharsan	Washington Sundar
Axar Patel		Rishabh Pant	Avesh Khan
Kuldeep Yadav		Sai Kishore	Dhruv Jurel
Varun Chakaravarthy		Rinku Singh	Riyan Parag
		Nitish Kumar Reddy

The opening pair

The top two spots will be hotly contested over the next six months. At the moment, including the Asia Cup 2025, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will get the go-ahead. But Shubman Gill is all but a certainty for the T20 World Cup, considering he is expected to take the T20 captaincy mantle after Suryakumar Yadav. The competition gets even tougher as SKY and Tilak Varma can also open.

Competing players

• Abhishek Sharma: Since the T20 World Cup 2024, Abhishek Sharma has excited the fans and the selectors alike. He has dominated the powerplay, scoring at a brisk run rate. He has also scored two centuries and as many fifties in 16 innings. However, the lack of consistency is a big question mark. Asia Cup would be a chance to cement his place.
• Sanju Samson: The cricketer with a question mark, Sanju Samson, will once again dominate discussions. In the last one year, Samson has had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He has scored three centuries for India, striking at a wonderful rate of 171.47. However, he also has four ducks and as many scores of 10 or below in those 16 innings. The fact that Jitesh Sharma is more flexible with his batting role means that Samson is not the only wicketkeeper. Asia Cup will be an acid test for the Kerala man.
• Shubman Gill: With 650 runs in IPL 2025, Gill should have made the squad for the Asia Cup. However, with India set to face West Indies in a two-match Test series just three days after the Asia Cup and Gill a certainty for T20 WC, the selectors might want to give one more tournament to Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal: By now, he should have been India’s first-choice opener across formats if not for Abhishek Sharma. Jaiswal has done everything right to cement his place in the T20s. But competition with Abhishek and Samson has kept him out. However, even if he does not make the Asia Cup squad, the next 15 T20I matches could decide his fate.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: While Ruturaj Gaikwad is not the favourite for the opening slot, he has definitely made a case for himself. In the 20 innings he has played for India in the T20Is, he has succeeded in all three spots. He has opened and scored a century, while he also scored a fifty at No 3. At No 4, Gaikwad scored 49. With two consecutive 500-run+ seasons in IPL, selectors would want to give him a chance in the upcoming matches. The only issue with Gaikwad is his strike rate in the powerplay.
• Sai Sudharsan: The Orange Cap winner of IPL 2025 with 759 runs, Sai Sudharsan, is a new entrant in the T20Is. Having already made his Test debut, the selectors are excited by his talent. Sudharsan will not only compete for the opening slot, but he will also fight for No 3 spot.

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No 3, 4 & 5 slot

With no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two spots are still up for grabs in T20Is. There are at least 11 players who will compete for three spots in India’s T20I XI for T20 World Cup. Some of the players who will lose the opening gamble could still fight for a spot in the middle order. Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson are two of them. With Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill certain to make the XI, there will be just one spot up for grabs.

Competing players

• Shubman Gill: If the selectors and team management want to go with Abhishek Sharma as the specialist opener along with either of Samson, Jaiswal or Sudharsan, Gill could end up at No 3.
• Tilak Varma: The most impressive player since the T20 World Cup 2024, Tilak Varma could have cemented his place in India’s T20Is if not for his average IPL 2025. In nine innings, Varma scored two centuries and a fifty, averaging 82.60. He also managed an impressive strike rate of 170.66. Considering he can also bowl off-spin, selectors would be giving Varma a few more matches before deciding his fate.
• Suryakumar Yadav: The captain of India’s T20I ship, Suryakumar Yadav, is certain to make the T20 World Cup squad. While SKY has struggled since the last T20 WC, averaging just 18.42, including only two fifties in 14 innings, he showed in the IPL what he could do. SKY scored 16 consecutive 25+ scores, creating a world record. He also struck at 167.91 and had five fifties.
• Shreyas Iyer: Out of the T20I side since December 2023, Shreyas Iyer has impressed one and all with his new batting approach. Iyer scored 604 runs in IPL 2025 at an average of 50.33 and an excellent strike rate of 175.07. With that, he has entered the competition. The only question is, can the selectors fit him in the XI or the squad?
• Riyan Parag: The Assamese youngster is an exciting prospect. After his recent course correction and newfound consistency, Parag will not only compete for an all-rounder’s spot but will also fight for a place at No 5. While Parag did not get many opportunities for India, he impressed with a 13-ball 34 against Bangladesh at No 4. In IPL 2025, Parag scored 393 runs and picked up three wickets. His spin bowling could be an added advantage.
• Sanju Samson: If Samson fails to get an opening spot, he could still fight for a No 3 slot. However, below No 3, Samson will be outcompeted by others.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: If not the opening spots, Gaikwad could still compete for a place at no 3, like Samson.
• KL Rahul: Out of the T20I squad since T20 WC 2022, KL Rahul has made a grand return. He is not the anchorman anymore. He can strike at a brisk rate, as he showed in the IPL 2025. Playing for Delhi Capitals, Rahul slammed 539 runs at a strike rate of 149.72, including a century. Selectors will be keeping a close tab.
• Shivam Dube: The all-rounder, who was supposed to be a backup for Hardik Pandya, has fallen off the radar. While he scored 357 runs for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025, his strike rate of 132.22 and struggles against spin were well documented. For India, he played four innings and scored a fifty. But with limited bowling, he could be out of contention soon.
• Rishabh Pant: India’s wild card entrant in any tournament, Rishabh Pant, may not find a place in the Asia Cup squad due to his injury but he will surely be in contention for a spot in the T20 World Cup 2026. In T20s, Pant also offers flexibility. He could open the innings, bat in the middle-order and could be considered at No 6 as well. However, his recent struggles in T20s could work against him.
• Sai Sudharsan: While Sudharsan would fight for an opening spot, he is also in the race for No 3.

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No 6, 7 & 8

This would be an interesting fight. While Gambhir hasn’t paid attention to a specialist finisher role, he could be forced to think about it for someone like Jitesh Sharma and two all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar or Axar Patel.

Competing players

• Hardik Pandya: Among the competing players, Hardik Pandya is the only certainty. He could bat up at No 4, 5 or could slot in at No 6. Considering he will be India’s third seamer, Hardik is undroppable from T20I side.
• Axar Patel: India’s vice-captain in the last T20I series, Axar Patel, is one all-rounder who would be considered a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. Axar’s excellent batting display in IPL 2025 would put him ahead. However, with the ball, he struggled. That could be an issue.
• Washington Sundar: Despite his talent and the retirement of R Ashwin, Washington Sundar hasn’t really found a role for him in T20s. For Gujarat Titans, he plays as an Impact Sub, but as a batter, limiting his time with the ball. For India, he would be an all-rounder but will have tough competition from Axar Patel and specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
• Jitesh Sharma: The only wicketkeeper in the list to play as a specialist finisher is Jitesh Sharma. He not only solves the problem of India’s extremely competitive top and middle order but also the finisher’s spot. If Gambhir and Suryakumar struggle to fit in Samson, Jitesh could be the solution. And Jitesh has hardly any competition at No 7.
• Rinku Singh: The designated finisher who has fallen out of favour, Rinku Singh is still in the fray for T20 WC. A poor IPL 2025 and string of low scores in T20Is, Rinku is in a spot of bother, especially with the rise of Jitesh Sharma. If he gets a chance in the next 18 confirmed India fixtures, he will have to make them count to be in the race for T20 WC.
• Dhruv Jurel: Another wicketkeeper in the fray is Dhruv Jurel. The advantage of Jurel is that he is also a flexible option. With 333 runs in IPL 2025, Jurel did step up, but he has tough competition from Samson, Pant and Jitesh.

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The spinners

With Axar Patel and Washington Sundar fighting for the spin all-rounder’s spot, there is another battle for the leg-spinner’s position. While Kuldeep Yadav might be ahead of the curve, he will still have competition from Ravi Bishnoi and two uncapped players Suyash Sharma and Digvesh Rathi.

• Varun Chakaravarthy: Even though Chakaravarthy did not have an excellent IPL 2025 season with 17 wickets, he is all but confirmed for Asia Cup and T20 WC at home. He will be ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in Asia Cup as well.
• Kuldeep Yadav: The favourite to make the T20 World Cup 2026 squad and Playing XI is Kuldeep Yadav. The leg-spinner hasn’t featured in the T20Is since the T20 World Cup final. But with a 15-wicket season in IPL 2025, he could be back in the squad for Asia Cup 2025.
• Ravi Bishnoi: Although Ravi Bishnoi did well in Kuldeep’s absence in T20Is with 25 wickets in 18 matches, his poor IPL 2025 could cost him his place. Bishnoi bagged just 9 wickets in 11 matches in IPL and had an economy rate of 10.83, his worst in IPL career. But there is still time for him to make a case for T20 World Cup selection.
• Yuzvendra Chahal: Once a permanent fixture in India’s T20 squad, Yuzvendra Chahal is all but out of contention. Unless he gets a chance ahead of Kuldeep or Bishnoi in the next three bilateral series, Chahal has no chance to make the T20 World Cup squad.
• Suyash Sharma: Instead of Chahal, selectors could look at a young talent in Suyash Sharma. He is an attacking bowler who can break partnerships. While Suyash is behind Kuldeep and Bishnoi in competition, he would be considered in case of an injury.
• Digvesh Rathi: The Delhi spinner impressed in his debut IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, bagging 14 wickets to outperform Bishnoi. The selectors will keep a close tab on Rathi’s progress.

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Pace bowlers

With Jasprit Bumrah set to lead the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh, India would look at backup options. In all likelihood, Bumrah and Arshdeep would be the two designated seamers. But considering Bumrah’s tryst with injuries, India would keep the options open.

• Jasprit Bumrah: He is India’s pace spearhead unless there is an injury.
• Arshdeep Singh: With Bumrah mostly away from T20Is due to workload management, Arshdeep has cemented his place. He is India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is in the last three years. Arshdeep will be in the T20 World Cup barring any injuries.
• Prasidh Krishna: Despite facing criticism in England for his poor economy, Prasidh Krishna had his best IPL season. He was the Purple Cap winner with 25 wickets for Gujarat Titans. He is likely to return to the T20I side for Asia Cup and will be in contention for T20 World Cup.
• Mohd Siraj: Another Gujarat Titans pacer Siraj had a good start to IPL 2025 before fading away. But with 16 wickets, he made a comeback in T20s. While he might miss the bus for Asia Cup due to workload management, he will be in contention for T20 WC.
• Harshit Rana: With Mohd Shami enduring a poor IPL 2025 apart from injuries to Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan, Harshit Rana could emerge as a backup seamer for T20 WC.
• Avesh Khan: With 13 wickets from as many matches, Avesh Khan had an average IPL season. But he will still be in contention for T20 WC.

India’s remaining fixtures before T20 World Cup

Opponent	Tournament	Venue	Date	Time
UAE	Asia Cup Group Stage	Dubai	Sep 10	19:30
Pakistan	Asia Cup Group Stage	Dubai	Sep 14	19:30
Oman	Asia Cup Group Stage	Abu Dhabi	Sep 19	19:30
TBA	Asia Cup Super 4*	Dubai	Sep 21	19:30
TBA	Asia Cup Super 4*	Dubai	Sep 24	19:30
TBA	Asia Cup Super 4*	Dubai	Sep 26	19:30
TBA	Asia Cup Final*	Dubai	Sep 28	19:30
Australia	1st T20I	Canberra	October 29	13:45
Australia	2nd T20I	Melbourne	October 31	13:45
Australia	3rd T20I	Hobart	Nov 2	13:45
Australia	4th T20I	Gold Coast	Nov 6	13:45
Australia	5th T20I	Brisbane	Nov 8	13:45
South Africa	1st T20I	Cuttack	Dec 9	19:00
South Africa	2nd T20I	Mullanpur	Dec 11	19:00
South Africa	3rd T20I	Dharamsala	Dec 14	19:00
South Africa	4th T20I	Lucknow	Dec 17	19:00
South Africa	5th T20I	Ahmedabad	Dec 19	19:00
New Zealand	1st T20I	Nagpur	Jan 21	19:00
New Zealand	2nd T20I	Raipur	Jan 23	19:00
New Zealand	3rd T20I	Guwahati	Jan 25	19:00
New Zealand	4th T20I	Visakhapatnam	Jan 28	19:00
New Zealand	5th T20I	Thiruvananthapuram	Jan 31	19:00