The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to electrify India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026, showcasing 20 teams battling through 55 high-intensity matches. As co-hosts, India will kick off the tournament at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, facing the United States of America in what promises to be a high-energy opening clash.
Fresh off a dominant Asia Cup 2025 performance, India enters the competition with confidence, balance, and an explosive core under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. With rising stars, established match-winners, and home advantage, India looks fully prepared to defend their 2024 T20 World Cup title.
India Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
No.
Player
Role
1
Suryakumar Yadav (C)
Middle-Order Batsman
2
Shubman Gill (VC)
Opening Batsman
3
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Opening Batsman
4
Tilak Varma
Middle-Order Batsman
5
Rinku Singh
Finisher / Middle-Order
6
Hardik Pandya
All-Rounder
7
Shivam Dube
All-Rounder
8
Axar Patel
All-Rounder / Spinner
9
Sanju Samson (WK)
Wicketkeeper-Batsman
10
Jasprit Bumrah
Fast Bowler
11
Arshdeep Singh
Fast Bowler
12
Kuldeep Yadav
Spinner
13
Ravi Bishnoi
Leg Spinner
14
Harshit Rana
All-Rounder
15
Jitesh Sharma
Backup WK-Batsman
Note: Final 15 to be officially confirmed by the BCCI.
T20 World Cup 2026 India Squad PDF
Fans will be able to download the official India squad PDF when released, including playing roles, stats, and match schedules.
Leadership & Team Management
Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill
Head Coach: Gautam Gambhir (expected to continue till 2026)
Why SKY is the perfect leader: Suryakumar’s unorthodox stroke play, aggressive mindset, and calm leadership under pressure have transformed India’s T20 identity. With Gill’s composure and Hardik’s tactical input, India has a leadership trio built for modern T20 cricket.
India’s Group – ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Team
Qualification Path
India 🇮🇳
Tournament Host
Pakistan 🇵🇰
ICC T20I Rankings
United States 🇺🇸
Americas Qualifier
Netherlands 🇳🇱
Europe Qualifier
Namibia 🇳🇦
Africa Qualifier
A competitive group featuring arch-rivals Pakistan, rising teams like USA, European challengers Netherlands, and Africa’s consistent performers Namibia.
India’s Group Stage Fixtures – ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Date
Match
Venue
Time (IST)
Time (PKT)
Sat, Feb 7, 2026
India vs United States
Wankhede, Mumbai
7:00 PM
6:30 PM
Thu, Feb 12, 2026
India vs Namibia
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
7:00 PM
6:30 PM
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
India vs Pakistan
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
7:00 PM
6:30 PM
Wed, Feb 18, 2026
India vs Netherlands
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
7:00 PM
6:30 PM
India’s Predicted Playing XI
Position
Player
Role
1
Shubman Gill (VC)
Opening Batsman
2
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Opening Batsman
3
Suryakumar Yadav (C)
Middle-Order
4
Tilak Varma
Middle-Order
5
Rinku Singh
Finisher
6
Hardik Pandya
All-Rounder
7
Sanju Samson (WK)
Wicketkeeper
8
Axar Patel
All-Rounder / Spinner
9
Jasprit Bumrah
Fast Bowler
10
Arshdeep Singh
Fast Bowler
11
Kuldeep Yadav
Spinner
Bench Strength:
Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Jitesh Sharma
Team Strengths – Deep Analysis
1. Explosive Batting
Gill & Jaiswal offer powerplay aggression.
SKY stabilizes & accelerates through overs 6–15.
Rinku Singh & Pandya finish with brute force.
2. All-Round Options
Axar and Hardik provide crucial flexibility.
Dube adds matchup advantage against spin-friendly conditions.
3. Elite Bowling Attack
Bumrah provides world-class death bowling.
Arshdeep swings the new ball.
Kuldeep + Bishnoi = match-winning spin combo.
4. Home Advantage
Slow, gripping pitches in India aid India’s spin battery.
Crowd support amplifies momentum in tight moments.
India’s Road to Glory – Can They Defend the Title?
After lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup, ending a 17-year drought since 2007, India arrives with a chance to become back-to-back champions—a feat only West Indies has achieved before.
With a blend of: ✔ youth firepower ✔ experienced match-winners ✔ home conditions ✔ world-class coaching
…this could be a historic campaign.
Final Word
The India squad for T20 World Cup 2026 combines innovation, stability, and star power. Whether it’s SKY’s leadership, Bumrah’s brilliance, or Jaiswal’s aggression, India looks prepared for another memorable title run.
Stay tuned for official BCCI squad updates, player statistics, match insights, and real-time tournament coverage.
FAQs – India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
1. Who is India’s captain for T20 World Cup 2026?
Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead India.
2. Who are India’s key players?
Gill, SKY, Jaiswal, Pandya, Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Rinku Singh are among the standout performers.
3. What group is India in?
India is grouped with Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia.
4. When will India play Pakistan?
India faces Pakistan on February 15, 2026, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
