India's preliminary squad for T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be announced on Saturday (December 20). While a majority of the 15-member squad is supposed to be on expected lines, there are a couple of interesting choices that the selectors will have to make. Meanwhile, four players from the title-winning squad of the 2024 World Cup will not be part of the 2026 edition.
According to reports, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal are the players who are set to miss the bus for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Pant's absence is guaranteed, given that India have started to prefer Jitesh Sharma as their primary wicket-keeper batter with an in-form Sanju Samson also in the squad.
Four players from the T20 World Cup winning squad will not find their names in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 19, 2025
Which omission will surprise you the most?
Pant, Yashasvi, Siraj or Chahal?
In fact, Samson doubles up as back-up opener and back-up wicket-keeper in the squad, thereby showcasing his versatility. Siraj's absence is also on expected lines, given that India are opting for multi-dimensional cricketers. In Harshit Rana, they have a bowler with similar profile and much superior batting ability. Of course, Siraj is far more experienced but India appear to have moved past him in T20Is.
Jaiswal's case is unfortunate, given that his form and numbers in T20Is are way ahead of Shubman Gill. However, the selectors and team management seem to be determined to push Gill into all-format zone, more out of desperation than anything else. As things stand, Jaiswal is best suited to be that all-format player for India but he will have to wait.
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This is not to say that Gill won't conquer all three formats - he has the skill set to do so - but India's desperation currently isn't in good taste. Jaiswal will have to bear the brunt of that decision and will find himself out of the squad. The only way he can sneak in is if the selectors and team management think of removing one all-rounder, in which case Washington Sundar could miss out.
If Sundar misses out, Jaiswal or Rinku Singh could make it to the squad. Chahal's exit was a foregone conclusion, given that Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy have been irreplaceable with their performances, both as a unit and individually. The official announcement from BCCI regarding the T20 World Cup 2026 squad is expected in the first half of December 20.
