Overview
- The BCCI unveiled a 15-player group in Mumbai for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with the same squad to play a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand in January.
- Shubman Gill was omitted after a lean run in T20Is, with the panel prioritizing a top-order wicketkeeper over retaining him.
- Ishan Kishan earned a recall on the back of a prolific Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and pairs with Sanju Samson as the two designated keepers, leaving Jitesh Sharma out.
- Axar Patel was appointed vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav, who remains skipper despite a recent batting slump noted by selectors.
- The squad includes Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in pace, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in spin, all-round options such as Washington Sundar and Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh as finisher for a title defense running Feb. 7–Mar. 8 in India and Sri Lanka.