T20 World Cup: BCCI Announces Squad, Ace Batter Axed, Ishan Makes Comeback

New Delhi: Ace batter Shubman Gill has been dropped from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a 15-member squad for the marquee tournament, scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8.

Axar Patel has been appointed vice-captain for the event, while Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh earned a recall following their impressive performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The BCCI also announced that the same squad will feature in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, to be played from January 21 to 31.

The squad was finalised following a meeting of the BCCI Senior Men’s Selection Committee at its Mumbai headquarters. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced the squads at a press conference, after which captain Suryakumar Yadav and selection committee chairperson Ajit Agarkar addressed the media.

Kishan has been selected as the second wicket-keeper alongside Sanju Samson, who recently crossed 1,000 T20I runs and became the seventh Indian to score 8,000 runs in T20s. Jitesh Sharma lost his place in the team following the series against South Africa, where he scored 10* in Cuttack and 27 in Mullanpur.