When the BCCI senior men’s selection committee announced India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday (December 20), there was a notable inclusion in it.
Ishan Kishan earned a surprise call-up to the 15-member group after leading Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title. The southpaw finished the SMAT 2025/26 as the leading run-getter (517 runs), strengthening his case as a top-order option who also adds flexibility behind the stumps.
Moreover, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was reinstated as the first-choice opener while finisher Rinku Singh also returned to the T20I lineup after being ignored for the recently held five-match series against South Africa.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma were sidelined from the squad. Axar Patel was named the new vice-captain in Gill’s place.
In a video shared on his Instagram account, former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik reacted to the selections of Sanju, Ishan and Rinku. He emphasised the struggles of the three players and the patience they showed to earn their place in the team.
"It is incredibly hard in life to be patient and trust your time will come. Three boys in the current Indian World Cup team have done exactly that in the last 24 months. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and last but not least Rinku Singh, outstanding. They have broken the door to make a comeback in the Indian team," Karthik said.
"The last time Ishan Kishan played for India was in 2023. Since then, he’s been out of the side. He went back to domestic cricket and scored runs. This year, he scored a hundred against Tamil Nadu, and in SMAT, he was the highest run-getter. More importantly, he delivered on big occasions, helping Jharkhand win their first domestic trophy," he added.
Karthik was effusive in praise of Samson and Rinku as well. "Sanju Samson has performed well in every opportunity he got as an opener. Since the 2022 World Cup, he has been lurking around the corner, and this time he has his chance. We all know the calibre and class he brings. He will make an impact in this World Cup without a doubt," Karthik said.
"And last but not least, Rinku Singh. I have seen him grow from an uncapped KKR player to dominating international cricket, always with a smile on his face. He has been a dressing room favourite but missed out previously due to combination issues. He was part of the 2024 World Cup squad but didn’t play. Now he gets his opportunity. Coming from a small town, these are the heroes young cricketers look up to in India. Wishing them all the very best. The Indian team looks solid," he concluded.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will begin their T20 World Cup title defence on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan
