India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad will be the same as the one selected for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The 20-over World Cup will take place on the subcontinent from February 7 to March 8.
ICC competitions require participating teams to submit their final 15-member squad one month before the start of the event. The selection panel has the possibility of making modifications to the final team until a deadline set by the apex body.
According to a BCCI source familiar with the situation, the World Cup squad will dress similarly to that of the New Zealand series unless there are any injuries or other exceptional situations.
“With only 10 T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, you won’t see many changes happening in the squad proper unless someone is ruled out due to any specific injury. One of the biggest reasons being continuity and the 15 chosen for the series against the Black Caps won’t be tinkered with because of the short turnaround time,” stated the source, as quoted by NDTV Sports.
It is also understood that five-match T20I series against South Africa will be the final opportunity for head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav to test a few players before the series against the Kiwis. The five T20Is will be a dress rehearsal for the marquee event.
The BCCI had followed the same template like the one used during the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. Both the tournaments were eventually won by India in convincing fashion.
The five T20I matches against New Zealand will be played in Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Vizag (January 28) and Trivandrum (January 31). The T20Is will be preceded by three ODIs.
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