India T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Announcement LIVE Updates: BCCI Selectors to Pick Team, Suryakumar Yadav to captain

As the cricketing world turns its eyes toward the subcontinent, India, the defending champions of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, are poised to defend their title on home soil. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026, the tournament promises high-octane action with 20 teams vying for glory.

With the squad announcement in Mumbai, speculation is rife about the Men in Blue's lineup under captain Suryakumar Yadav. Check out the live squad announcement updates here. Keep refreshing for latest updates.

India's Storied History in the T20 World Cup

India's journey in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and heartbreaks since the tournament's inception in 2007. As one of the most successful teams, they boast two titles - the inaugural win in 2007 under

MS Dhoni and the 2024 victory led by Rohit Sharma, where they remained undefeated throughout. They've reached the semi-finals or better in five editions, with a runners-up finish in 2014.

Here's a breakdown of India's performance across all editions:

Edition	Host(s)	India's Finish	Key Highlights
2007	South Africa	Champions	Defeated Pakistan in the final; MS Dhoni's iconic leadership debut.
2009	England	Super 8	Early exit despite strong start.
2010	West Indies	Super 8	Struggled against top teams.
2012	Sri Lanka	Super 8	Super 8 Exit
2014	Bangladesh	Runners-up	Lost to Sri Lanka in the final.
2016	India	Semi-finals	Heartbreaking loss to West Indies in semis.
2021	UAE/Oman	Super 12	Failed to advance from group stage.
2022	Australia	Semi-finals	Defeated by England in semis.
2024	West Indies/USA	Champions	Unbeaten campaign; beat South Africa in final.

Overall, India have played 53 matches in the tournament, securing 35 wins for a win percentage of approximately 66%. Their batting has been a powerhouse, with records like the highest team total of 260/5 (against Sri Lanka in 2009) and individual brilliance from players like Kohli, who holds the record for most runs in T20 World Cups (1,141). On the bowling front, spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have been pivotal, while pacers such as Jasprit Bumrah have dominated in recent years.

Group Draw and Fixtures: A Favorable Path?

India have been placed in Group A, alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia - a relatively straightforward group that avoids early clashes with powerhouses like Australia or England. The highlight is undoubtedly the India-Pakistan encounter, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, expected to draw massive global viewership.

India's group stage fixtures are as follows:

• February 7: India vs USA at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• February 12: India vs Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
• February 15: India vs Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
• February 18: India vs Netherlands at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Advancing to the Super 8s seems likely, given India's superior ranking and home advantage. However, the tournament's knockout stages will test their mettle, with potential semi-final venues favoring India if they qualify - Mumbai or Kolkata, depending on matchups.

Expectations and Key Challenges

As defending champions and co-hosts, the pressure is immense on India to deliver a third title. Their recent form - only three losses in T20Is since the 2024 win - positions them as frontrunners. Key to success will be the explosive top order, spin dominance in subcontinental conditions, and Bumrah's death-over mastery. Challenges include adapting to varying pitches in India and Sri Lanka, managing injuries, and handling the hype around the Pakistan game.

Emerging talents like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma could shine, while veterans like Hardik Pandya provide all-round balance. With the IPL serving as a perfect lead-in, India's depth ensures they're well-prepared.

Probable India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Based on recent performances and expert predictions ahead of tomorrow's official announcement, here's a probable 15-member squad:

• Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
• Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
• Abhishek Sharma
• Tilak Varma
• Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)
• Axar Patel
• Hardik Pandya
• Shivam Dube
• Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Varun Chakravarthy
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Arshdeep Singh
• Harshit Rana