Afghanistan Announce Their Squad For T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan Cricket Board announced its 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In this tournament, Afghanistan team will be captained by star leg spinner Rashid Khan and opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran has been made the vice-captain. The Afghanistan team had performed amazingly in the 2024 T20 World Cup, due to which the Afghan team was successful in reaching the semi-finals.

Naveen Ul Haq returns to the team after a long time

Afghanistan’s veteran player Mohammad Nabi has also been included in the team, who is going to turn 41 on January 1, 2026. Naveen Ul Haq and Gulbadin Naib have also returned to the team, which will make their bowling line-up even stronger. Naveen has not played any match for Afghanistan in the year 2025 and due to injury he could not even play the Asia Cup. Both of them had performed amazingly for the team in the last T20 World Cup.

Allah Ghazanfar included in reserve players

19 year old mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar has failed to make a place in the team. He has been included among the three reserve players. Apart from Allah, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia ur Rehman Sharifi have been kept among the reserve players. Before the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan team will play a series against West Indies. This series will be played in Sharjah from January 19 to 22, 2026.

Afghanistan team present in difficult group

Afghanistan team has been placed in Group D in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Teams from New Zealand, South Africa, UAE and Canada are present in it. Due to having two strong teams, it will not be easy for Afghanistan. Afghanistan will face New Zealand in its first match on 8 February in Chennai. After this, it will play against South Africa on 11th February at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Afghanistan squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqui and Abdullah. Ahmedzai.

Shubhman Gill has not got a place in the team for T20 World Cup 2026, which was surprising for the fans. Test and ODI captain Gill was the vice-captain in the T20 series against South Africa, his performance was not good. Gill got injured during this period, but he was dropped from the World Cup not because of injury. Now a report has revealed that BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia had called a secret meeting, in which the performance of the players was discussed.

When Shubman Gill was not playing T20, Sanju Samson was opening with Abhishek Sharma. With the arrival of Gill, Sanju had to come to bat lower in the order, but now questions are being raised whether it was necessary to include Gill in a strong team.

BCCI secret meeting

According to the report of News 18, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia had called a secret meeting after the T20 match against South Africa in Dharamshala. In this there was discussion on the performance of the players. Before selecting the World Cup squad, the Secretary had asked for a report on the performance of the players from the Chief Selector. This meeting was important before the selection of the T20 World Cup 2026 team, which was kept completely confidential.

Questions raised on Shubman Gill’s poor form

Shubman Gill became the captain of the Test team this year. His first Test series as Test captain was in England, in which he performed brilliantly with the bat. Gill had scored 754 runs. After this, Gill was also given the captaincy of the ODI team and was made the vice-captain of the T20 team. But the end of the year was not good for Gill, he could score a total of 32 runs in 3 T20 matches against South Africa.

Shubman Gill was ruled out of the fourth T20 due to injury, although this match did not take place due to fog in Lucknow. After this, he also remained out of the fifth T20 played in Ahmedabad on 19 December. A day after this, on December 20, the team for T20 World Cup 2026 was announced in the press conference.

Discussion on Gill’s bad record

According to the report, in this secret meeting of BCCI, Shubman Gill’s poor T20 record this year and his average were discussed. During this period, names of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal also came up. It was said that Gill is in the team, but there is a question mark on the place of players like Yashasvi and Sanju Samson. In this meeting, it was decided that Gill will not be in the team for T20 World Cup 2026.

Gill had scored 4, 0 and 28 runs respectively in the first three T20s against South Africa. After this he suffered a leg injury and was out of the fourth and fifth T20. Let us tell you that Shubman Gill was also kept out of the T20 World Cup 2024, in which India became the champion by defeating South Africa in the final.

Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2026

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

The Indian team has been announced for the T20 World Cup 2026, Ishan Kishan has returned in this team captained by Suryakumar Yadav. Vice-captain Shubhman Gill and Jitesh Sharma have been dropped. Former cricketer Wasim Jaffer raised a big question about the team, he feels that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jitesh Sharma should have been in this team. According to him, these two players could have been in place of Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar.

T20 World Cup 2026 will be organized from 7 February to 8 March in India and Sri Lanka. The team was announced through a live press conference on Saturday, December 20, which was attended by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia and Suryakumar Yadav. On Sunday, the day after the team was announced, former cricketer Wasim Jaffer tweeted, “Why not Jaiswal and Jitesh? #T20WorldCup.” After this he made another post.

What did Wasim Jaffer say?

Wasim Jaffer reposted his own tweet and wrote, “I would have played them (Jitesh and Yashasvi) instead of Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar. Axar is the vice-captain, so his playing is certain and you cannot play Washington before Varun Chakraborty and Kuldeep Yadav. Jitesh has not done anything wrong that he should be dropped and Yashasvi, there is no need to tell why he should not be in the team.”

I would have them in place of Ishan & Washi. Axar is VC so he’s sure to play and you can’t play Washi ahead of Varun and Kuldeep. Jitesh hasn’t done anything wrong to be dropped and Yashasvi, don’t need any explaining why he shouldn’t be there in first place. #T20WorldCup2026 https://t.co/68BtGDKZYx

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 21, 2025

Indian team for T20 World Cup 2026

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

India’s schedule in T20 World Cup 2026

• 7 February- vs America (Mumbai)
• 12 February- vs Namibia (Delhi)
• 15 February- vs Pakistan (Colombo)
• 18 February- vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad).

The T20 World Cup 2026 match will be held between India and Sri Lanka in February, for which BCCI announced the team on Saturday. Ishan Kishan returned to the 15-member team under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, who last played T20 International in 2023. Vice-captain Shubhman Gill has been dropped because his form was going bad for some time. But if we talk about the dropped players, they too can form a playing 11 that can give competition to any team.

If the playing 11 is made of the players who were not selected in the team, then it will be such that you will also think that this team can defeat anyone. This also testifies that India’s future in cricket is bright. Let us choose the playing 11 of such players.

Gill captain, Yashasvi’s opening partner

Shubman Gill can be the captain of this team, who is also the vice-captain of the national team. However, due to poor form, he was left out of the T20 World Cup squad. Yashasvi Jaiswal can start the innings with Gill, who has the ability to hit big shots from the first ball.

Rishabh Pant wicket keeper, Jitesh also included

In the last few matches, an experiment was also done in the national team, both the wicketkeepers were played. One of them was Jitesh Sharma, who has been with the team for a long time but could not make his place at the last moment. In the playing 11 of the players not selected, KL Rahul can be included at number three, Jitesh Sharma at number four and Rishabh Pant can be included as wicket keeper at number five.

2 experienced fast bowlers in the form of Shami and Siraj

Talking about all-rounders, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy can be included in this playing 11. Reddy, who made his debut in October last year, played his last T20 International in January 2025. Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi can be the two spinners, Chahal is a very experienced bowler but he is not able to make a comeback in the national team.

Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami are being included as two fast bowlers, who have a lot of experience. However, Harbhajan Singh said during live on JioHotstar that Siraj should be prepared, he can get a chance any time. His reference was to the replacement of a player if he gets injured, that if someone is out then BCCI can look at him as an alternative.

Playing 11 of players not selected

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Shubman Gill (Captain)
3. KL Rahul
4. Jitesh Sharma
5. Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
6. Nitish Kumar Reddy
7. Shardul Thakur
8. Yuzvendra Chahal
9. Ravi Bishnoi
10. Mohammed Shami
11. Mohammad Siraj.

The Indian team has been announced for the T20 World Cup 2026, in which Ishan Kishan has been included as the second wicketkeeper. Ishaan has been selected in the T20 team after 2 years, meanwhile there is a whole story of a struggle. He also had to be released from the central contract of BCCI. Now Ishaan’s first reaction has come on his name being selected in the team.

Ishan Kishan’s first reaction

Ishan Kishan looked very happy after being selected in the T20 World Cup squad. Speaking to news agency ANI, Ishaan said, “I am very happy. Excited to join the team.” Kishan further said that the team is playing very well.

#WATCH Patna, Bihar , On his comeback to India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Indian cricketer Ishan Kishan says, “I am very happy…” pic.twitter.com/R2oKsCd9U2

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025

Ishan Kishan also shared an Instagram story and wrote in the caption, “Back, better” i.e. return in a better way. Let us tell you that considering Ishaan’s recent form, he has been selected in the T20 World Cup squad, whereas due to his form, Shubman Gill was left out of the team.

Before the T20 World Cup, Ishan Kishan will return in the T20 series against New Zealand. Actually, the team announced on Saturday is also for the 5-match T20 series against New Zealand along with the World Cup. The first match of the T20 series will be played on 21 January, the last match of which will be played on 31 January.

Ishan Kishan’s performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was excellent, Jharkhand won its first title under his captaincy. Ishaan created history by playing a century in the final. He became the first captain to score a century in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was the only batsman to score more than 500 runs in the tournament. He scored a total of 517 runs in 10 innings.

Indian team for T20 World Cup 2026

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

India’s schedule in T20 World Cup 2026

• 07 February- vs America (Mumbai)
• 12 February- vs Namibia (Delhi)
• 15 February- vs Pakistan (Colombo)
• 18 February- vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad)

t20 world cup 2026 teams

Group A- India, Pakistan, America, Netherlands, Namibia

Group B- Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman

Group C- England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy

Group D- New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE.

The 2026 T20 World Cup will be organized in the months of February and March. The first match of the World Cup will be played on 7 February and the final will be played on 8 March. India and Sri Lanka are going to host this month-long tournament together. Usually, being the host of a big tournament is beneficial in itself, but there are 3 such records which are presenting such evidence that the Indian team may not be able to win the title of 2026 T20 World Cup.

India will not be able to win the 2026 World Cup, these are 3 reasons

1. No country has won two consecutive World Cups

The first T20 World Cup was played in 2007, till now a total of 6 countries including India and Pakistan have become T20 world champions. India, England and West Indies are the three countries who have achieved the title of being T20 World Champions twice. But none of those teams could lift the trophy in two consecutive World Cup tournaments.

2. The host country has never won

Till now, T20 World Cup has been organized 9 times, but it has never happened when the host country has lifted the T20 World Cup trophy. India had earlier hosted the T20 World Cup in 2016, but Team India was out of the tournament that year after losing in the semi-finals. So far, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, England and Australia have won the T20 World Cup, but none of them have lifted the trophy as hosts.

3. Never defended trophy

The T20 format has got a total of 6 different world champions so far. In 2007, India became the world champion for the first time, but the next year Pakistan became the champion. Pakistan also could not defend its trophy in 2010, because England won the next time. After that West Indies and then Sri Lanka became world champions. Even after that, the same trend has continued that the team which became champion last time, has never been able to defend its tag of being champion.

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Watch: ‘I am very happy…’, Ishan Kishan’s reaction on joining the T20 World Cup squad, know what he said