India’s Road to T20 World Cup 2026: Strengths and Missing Players

Expectations of the ICC Men T20 World Cup 2026 are on the high side since this is likely to be one of the largest international tournaments in the world of cricket. Millions of cricketing enthusiasts worldwide are looking forward to the tens of matches of their favorite team playing on the big screen. Being one of the most powerful teams in international cricket, India has declared a strong and balanced team to participate in this prestigious tournament.

The Indian selectors have also been keen on developing a contemporary T20 force as they go about selecting the T20 World Cup squad where they have emphasized a mix of young and exciting talent with experienced match-winners. The objective of this strategy is to establish a group of players who are able to handle pressure and adjust to various playing environments across different venues.

Team India is better equipped to make a full comeback on the international scene after registering disappointing performances in past ICC tournaments. The present team has hard-hitting batters who can score at a fast pace, reliable all-rounders to provide balance, and a strong bowling attack that can trouble any opposition.

India T20 World Cup 2026 Squad:

Player Name	Role
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)	Batsman
Abhishek Sharma	All-rounder
Tilak Varma	Batsman
Sanju Samson	Wicketkeeper-Batsman
Shivam Dube	All-rounder
Ishan Kishan	Wicketkeeper-Batsman
Hardik Pandya	All-rounder
Arshdeep Singh	Bowler
Jasprit Bumrah	Bowler
Harshit Rana	Bowler
Varun Chakaravarthy	Bowler
Kuldeep Yadav	Bowler
Axar Patel	All-rounder
Washington Sundar	All-rounder
Rinku Singh	Batsman

The purpose of choosing this squad is highly balance- and flexibility-oriented. Most of these players have delivered consistent performances in international cricket as well as major T20 leagues. The availability of several all-rounders also gives the team management the freedom to test different combinations depending on match situations.

Big Names Excluded from India T20 World Cup 2026:

No major tournament is without surprises, and the 2026 T20 World Cup is no exception. The squad does not include several big Indian stars, which has disappointed many fans.

Virat Kohli

The absence of Virat Kohli has become one of the biggest talking points. He has enjoyed a legendary career and delivered numerous match-winning performances in ICC tournaments. His experience and ability to perform under pressure will be greatly missed. However, the selectors appear to be shifting their focus towards a younger core for the future.

Rohit Sharma

Another major omission is former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. He is regarded as one of the most successful T20 batters in history, known for his explosive batting and leadership qualities. Many fans were hoping to see him feature in the 2026 World Cup.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is a fan favorite due to his aggressive batting and entertaining style. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, he has produced several memorable moments for Team India. His exclusion has surprised many fans, but selectors have opted for other in-form wicketkeeping options.

Although these star players are not part of the squad, Team India still has strong replacements capable of delivering match-winning performances.