For players, IPL 2025 is cheat code for T20 World Cup 2026 selection

The clock is ticking and the countdown has begun. With just 11 months remaining until the T20 World Cup 2026, IPL 2025 will serve as the proving ground for players who are still not guaranteed starters. With the T20 WC 2026 in the Feb-March window next year, selectors must bank on IPL 2025 to select the core India Cricket Team to retain the trophy as there won’t be time for another IPL.

While the current T20I squad is all but settled, some additions and substractions based on IPL form could occur. There will be a maximum of 23 T20Is in the lead-up to the World Cup. Hence, making the core before the T20I series against Bangladesh in August will be crucial for head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Gambhir is planning to have separate squads for ODIs and T20Is but whether that is feasible, IPL could be the answer.

Puzzles in the T20 World Cup jigsaw

• Who is Rohit Sharma’s replacement?
• Who replaces Virat Kohli?
• Who will be the wicketkeeper?
• Who are the all-rounders?

Rohit Sharma’s replacement

Abhishek Sharma with two centuries and two half-centuries in just 16 T20Is seems to be the ideal replacement for Rohit Sharma, who called it quits after the T20 WC triumph last year. He follows the same template Rohit set with aggressive batting, striking the ball at a 193.84 strike rate.

But Yashasvi Jaiswal isn’t far behind. While Jaiswal has been busy with Test duties, he is a candidate that selectors are keeping a close tab on. Sanju Samson has played the opening role to a certain degree of success. However, his inconsistency could bring Jaiswal back in the fray. Hence, IPL 2025 could be crucial for Samson. Jaiswal and Abhishek could be the opening duo in T20 WC 2026 if he misses the trick.

Player	Inn	Runs	SR	Avg	50	100
Sanju Samson	13	417	182.89	34.75	0	3
Abhishek Sharma	14	511	199.60	36.50	2	2
Yashasvi Jaiswal	6	221	170	44.2	1	0
Shubman Gill	7	243	129.25	40.5	2	0

Who replaces Virat Kohli?

Another stalwart of India’s T20I success Virat Kohli is irreplaceable. But he has called it quits from the format after scoring 4188 runs at a 48.69 average, India need a replacement. Suryakumar Yadav has been promoted to the No 3 role since Kohli’s retirement. However, he has been out of form. While he is still striking at over 175, runs haven’t flown. But the current captain of India’s T20I team will keep his No 3 spot, for now.

Suryakumar Yadav batting position	Inn	Runs	SR	Avg	50	100
No 3	9	235	176.69	26.11	2	0
No 4	11	207	131.84	20.70	2	0

Players in contention

• Tilak Varma
• Suryakumar Yadav
• Rishabh Pant
• Shubman Gill
• Sanju Samson
• Ishan Kishan (outside chance)

There is Tilak Varma though. The youngster has been in the form of his life. He scored two centuries in South Africa, coming in at No 3. Add his bowling to the mix and Tilak is the next big star. However, with the crowded opening slots, selectors would not mind keeping the No 3 slot open.

There is also Ishan Kishan, who has been out of favour since November 2023. While it will be very difficult for him to make it back to Team India, the door is definitely not closed. If he can score a ton of runs at his new franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, he can still get back and compete with the others.

Player	Inn	Runs	SR	Avg	50	100
Sanju Samson	3	33	126.92	11.00	0	0
Abhishek Sharma	2	24	120.00	12.00	0	0
Tilak Varma	13	443	169.73	55.37	2	2
Suryakumar Yadav	23	714	165.66	34.00	6	1
Rishabh Pant	14	288	127.43	26.18	0	0
Ishan Kishan	4	114	134.11	28.50	2	0

Who will be the wicketkeeper?

Rishabh Pant remains and will remain the first-choice wicketkeeper for Team India. While he hasn’t had a lot of success in T20Is, averaging just 23.25 after 66 innings with a strike rate of only 127.26, he is never out of the fray.

Players in the fray

• Sanju Samson
• Rishabh Pant
• Dhruv Jurel
• Ishan Kishan
• Jitesh Sharma

However, the question is which positions are vacant and up for grabs. While Sanju Samson is only competing for a top-order role, there could be an opening at No 5 or No 6 slot. If the team management decides to audition for those two spots, Samson will have a hard time finding a place. The other factor is that not many keeper-batters are available in the lower middle-order, a position MS Dhoni or Dinesh Karthik specialised in.

That leaves Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant and Jitesh Sharma as the only three contenders for No 5, 6 or 7 slots. However, not many have succeeded in that role including Jitesh. IPL 2025 could provide an answer. Otherwise, Samson could remain the best available option.

Player	Inn	Runs	SR	Avg	50
Sanju Samson	7	93	112.04	18.6	0
Rishabh Pant	19	327	124.33	25.15	1
Ishan Kishan	1	20	142.85		0
Jitesh Sharma	6	95	148.43	15.83	0
Dhruv Jurel	22	347	151.53	23.13	2

Who are the all-rounders?

Since taking over the reins from Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir has focused a lot on all-rounders. India’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph was an example of why having all-rounders is important. Similarly, T20 is an all-rounders’ game now. But who are India’s pick?

There are two categories of all-rounders: seam bowling and spin bowling. While there is still no like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya, there are plenty in the spin-bowling all-rounders department.

In the spin-bowling all-rounder department, Ravindra Jadeja’s T20I retirement has given Axar Patel a chance. He is a like-for-like replacement. Axar is a handy batter and can bowl in the powerplay. He can also bowl defensive spells as well as attacking ones. There is also a case for Washington Sundar. With R Ashwin retiring, Sundar is a great alternative, who can bowl off-spin and score at a rapid pace.

In the seam-bowling all-rounder department, Hardik remains the only option who can share the new ball. But Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy are good backups. All the Gambhir-Agarkar duo needs to do is decide on the all-rounder combination. Don’t rule out Tilak Varma or Abhishek Sharma bowling occasional spells either.