Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant is not a part of Team India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Indian team management has made Sanju Samson and Ishan a part of the squad as wicketkeepers for the World Cup. But before the start of the tournament, former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith spoke in support of Pant. The Kiwi veteran appeared to disagree with the decision to drop Pant from the team.

Let us tell you that Pant was a part of Team India in the last T20 World Cup of 2024. He played all the matches of the tournament, but gradually he was removed from the T20 team. He last played T20 for Men in Blue in July 2024. So let us know what the Kiwi veteran said about Pant.

Disagree with Pant’s decision

Speaking to news agency PTI, Smith said, “I would choose Rishabh Pant in my team any day. I am surprised that Pant is not here. He is a talented player, can win matches. He should be a match-winner. He is a match winner.”

It is right to bring Sanju in the team

While on one hand Smith opposed the idea of ​​keeping Pant out of the team, on the other hand he also supported the fact that it is right to keep Sanju Samson in the team. Otherwise, he was also seen supporting the decision to drop Gill. Smith said that it was right to drop Gill. Now it will be interesting to see how right the decision of dropping Pant proves to be for Team India.

Indian squad for T20 World Cup

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh.

Litton Das On 2026 T20 World Cup: Till now many people have expressed their opinion on whether Bangladesh cricket team will come to India to play 2026 T20 World Cup or not. But now Bangladesh captain Liton Das gave a very interesting answer to this question. On Tuesday (January 20), Das told in a very special way what is the latest update at the moment.

Let us tell you that in view of the continuous atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh, the controversy intensified, after which Mustafizur Rahman was released from IPL 2026. Then Bangladesh Cricket Board said that their team will not come to India to play the World Cup. So let us know what the team captain said now.

What did Liton Das say?

Liton Das, who was attending the press conference during the Bangladesh Premier League, was asked, are you sure that we are going for the World Cup?

Responding to this, Liton Das said, “You don’t know, I don’t know, we are on the same page. The World Cup is still far away. We are not even sure whether we will go to the World Cup or not.”

Liton Das further said, “Everyone is playing Bangladesh Premier League, but if we knew which teams are in our group or which country we are going to play, it would help us. Till now no player knows which country we are going to and who we will play against. Like me, the whole Bangladesh is in uncertainty.

No permission was taken from the players

Das further revealed that no permission has been taken. After this he said, “I don’t know but there was no conversation with me. Many things in life are not right, but you have to adopt them according to the circumstances.”