India Squad Announcement For T20 World Cup 2026, HIGHLIGHTS: Shubman Gill Dropped, Shocked Gavaskar Says 'Nazar Lag Gayi'

According the Sunny G, the x-factor is clear to him.

“Axar Patel, the vice-captain. He is the x-factor with the bat and with the ball. His batting has gone really up there. He can crash the ball everywhere. He's bowling, varying his pace, bowling across the crease. Bringing the speed variation, will get grip and turn. He's also an outstanding fielder. He will be the x-factor, cna use him at 5 or 6, and can bowling in the first 6 overs, he's capable of doing that. Him and Hardik Pandya will be the two.”

 Saba Karim credits Agarkar and the committee:

“The first thing a selection committee does is look at top order batters. Once they decided they needed a wicketkeeper to open the batting, the rest falls in place easily. Two things they decided to do were course-correction and then a bold call. My compliments to Ajit and company because very seldom we see two big changes just before the World Cup. To take them see this call, they've relied on his current form and a solid backup player. They tried to incorporate him but expectations, Shubman Gill failed to rise to. I'm glad to see they've been able to do so.”

SKY explains that Tilak will be number 3 for the campaign, and that lefty-righty is 'overrated':

“We've come to a point, me and Gauti bhai and the other batters, lefty-righty is not what we're looking for. It's a little overrated. We've fixed number 3 for Tilak, 4 for myself, and then whoever is comfortable. We want to fix that role for Tilak so he knows what his role is and is happy in that position.”

Reports from the live broadcast state that the meeting has reached a conclusion, which means the only step remaining is the press conference itself. Coming soon.

Sunil Gavaskar speaks to JioHotstar about what he thinks is going wrong for SKY with his batting:

“Nothing's wrong, what's been happening is that the first mistake he's making has been his last mistake. You usually have luck going your way, that's not what's happened with him. Lot of the times when he's trying to play the shot that gets him runs, he's getting out. The bat is turning in his hand trying to play the flick shot. His hand is loose if he is being caught at mid-on or mid-off. Just the bad luck.”

Images from the selection meeting as the final pieces are put in place. The selectors and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also in attendance.,

The Selection Committee Meeting for #TeamIndia's squad announcement for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is underway at the BCCI headquarters. #MenInBlue | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/YFWgAoIB8F, — BCCI (@BCCI) December 20, 2025

After having to fly in from Ahmedabad following yesterday's T20I, a delay to Suryakumar Yadav's flight plans could reportedly force a slight delay in the presser.

Gearing up for the information from the press conference very soon. Of course, we have a rough idea, but certainties will only come by with official news.

So the selection meeting will currently be underway in Mumbai with Agarkar pictured having arrived at BCCI HQ. Big decisions currently being made for the defending champs.

There were some concerns with India's middle order batting that cropped up during and after the Asia Cup – but Hardik Pandya has returned from his injury and hit the power-hitting heights of years gone by, playing two sensational knocks vs South Africa and regaining his six-stroke.

That's excellent news for India: not only is he a 3-4 over bowler when fit, but his batting versatility means he can perform anywhere from 4 down to 7. India simply look unstoppable when he's on song.

What will be a quiet worry for Indian fans and staff will be how Suryakumar Yadav has struggled to be amongst the runs at all. Given his high-risk and high-octane style, it does tend to look very bad when SKY isn't on song – his struggle gets accentuated. But he still holds the ability to be the best and most creative batter in this format in the world – how can India ensure that is the version that arrives at the World Cup? Something to figure out over the coming weeks.

The key difference for India over other teams has been how much they have been able to rely on Abhishek Sharma for good starts and the occasional big score. Abhishek fell just short of Kohli's record for the most T20I runs for India in a calendar year, but the fact that he was in that conversation in his first full year on the scene is telling: he is arguably India's batting MVP.

Gautam Gambhir will know that his combination will likely include Bumrah, Pandya, and Dube as the seam options, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy both playing every game, particularly on Indian surfaces. The last spot might see Arshdeep Singh rotate in and out with Axar Patel, depending on whether the pitch supports spin more, or if the need for extra batting is felt over the course of the tournament.

What does India's 15 look like at the moment? Let's take a look back at the squad that was used for the recent series against South Africa:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar

14 of the 15 are likely going to be the same, short of injury concerns, but there is a chance that Rinku Singh is needed to come in just to add a little bit of batting steel with 3 frontline spin options already in the squad.

Ishan Kishan has been on the peripheries of the Indian team for a while now – there is no doubt he is a great player, but the options at hand have always been just a little bit better. Kishan has begun turning the tide: he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading from the front with 517 runs in 10 matches, at a strike rate just short of 200.

He was the top-scorer and the biggest six-hitter, and has blasted the selection committee's door down and demanded, at the very least, a little bit of attention. It will be tough for him to break into the opening corps – but there is an outside chance.

 Increasingly it has become clear that India are ready to move on from Sanju Samson as the first-choice wicketkeeper, opting for Jitesh Sharma instead. Samson had a stellar end to 2024 and excellent start to 2025, but since has seen himself steadily moved on from regular playing time. He will likely go into the squad as the second wicketkeeper, that looks likely – but with a certain Ishan Kishan tearing things up in domestic cricket, there is a question that will be asked.

This is the central debate that is sparking a lot of headaches and consternation. Shubman Gill has already earned captaincy in two of the three formats, and only this one remains. That is why Gill is in the squad – but does he make it better than Sanju Samson? Recent examples have created widening gaps in the faith Gill has been shown, and the question that needs to be answered is whether the team chosen is the one most likely to win, or one that proactively plans for the future even with some sacrifices in the now?

 Lastly in terms of preparation for India ahead of the World Cup is a five-match set against the Kiwis, who themselves will have a dent amount of firepower and will bring unique T20 skills to the table. In truth, India have proven themselves against their biggest challengers over the last couple of months, but things chance before tournaments – it becomes about the clutch gene.

 Suryakumar Yadav will know this is likely his only chance to captain India at a tournament, and he gets to do so on home turf. The writing isn't on the walls by any means yet, but the expectation is that India will look to hand captaincy over to a younger member from the team. Confirmation from that shouldn't be expected today, but it will certainly be a talking point…

An important day in the lead up to the T20 World Cup next February-March. Defending champions India are set to name their squad – who makes the cut, and who doesn't? Stay tuned to find out!