The Indian senior men’s team selection committee will on Saturday, December 20, announce the squads for the T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup, which are expected to replicate each other,
according to a report in Sports Tak.
The report states that the meeting will take place at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to finalise India’s teams for a busy upcoming schedule. The main agenda is selecting the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, along with the team for the preceding five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
The selection committee appears to favour continuity, with the team for the New Zealand series likely mirroring the T20 World Cup lineup. No major surprises in terms of inclusions or omissions are expected.
While the initial 15-member team must be submitted to the ICC ahead of time, officials noted that replacements can still be made before the tournament starts. This permits team management flexibility to manage potential injuries or notable changes in form during the final weeks of preparation.
India will host New Zealand for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is, scheduled from Sunday, January 11, to Saturday, January 31.
India’s path to the 2026 T20 World Cup is all set, with the hosts kicking off their campaign on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA. The team will then head to Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium to face Namibia on February 12.
Next, the group stage moves to Colombo for a high-voltage clash with arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15, before wrapping up Group A games on February 18 against the Netherlands at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
While the schedule is locked in, questions around leadership and form continue to dominate discussions. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s designated T20I captain, remains under the scanner amidst a prolonged dip in batting form.
