India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Selection meeting over; matter of time before announcement

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: The good thing for Gambhir and Gill alike is that there is no need to be hasty and pull the trigger with regards to his role in the team just yet: he has the opportunity to use the five matches agaisnt New Zealand as a last chance to sharpen himself in time for the World Cup, and that means he will back himself in those games too. If not, Sanju Samson is always on the sidelines, just as an emergency backup option if nothing else.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: What is expected to be the other major decision is a choice between Rinku Singh and the extra all-round presence of Washington Sundar.

India already have access to three all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel, but Gautam Gambhir might want access to a fourth. However, if Hardik or Jitesh are unavailable, the list of reliable finishers diminishes greatly, and Rinku Singh might be needed to come in for an emergency game or two as he did in the Asia Cup.

The extra spin of Sundar or the extra power of Rinku is a tough call to make, and one which will leave the other disappointed.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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?

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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…

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: India will be confident heading into the new year after their most recent success, a comprehensive 3-1 performance which indicated this is a team that knows what its style is, and teammates who complement each other’s strengths. The Proteas were runners up in 2024, but were brushed aside comfortably – sign of things to come?

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar will helm the press conference which will see the 15-member squad for the World Cup announced: it is expected to be the same as the one for the five-match series against New Zealand in the second half of January. The selectors will meet in Mumbai to confirm and notarize the squad Gautam Gambhir will have at his disposal during the tournament.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: 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!