India squad announcement for T20 World Cup: Ishan Kishan keeps it short and simple in 1st reaction to news

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: The Indian batting order is action-packed! Abhishek, Suryakumar, Samson, Tilak, Rinku and Kishan will be key. Hardik is among the all-rounders, and got a half-century in the final T20I in Ahmedabad recently. We also have Dube, Axar and Sundar!

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Gill's 2025 in T20Is has been poor. He has managed only 291 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.25. His strike rate is 137.26, and he doesn't have any tons or fifties!

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Harbhajan Singh has been left impressed by the India squad, and gave the selectors a perfect 10/10 rating.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Speaking to ANI, Kishan reacted to his comeback. He said, "I am very happy."

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Taking to X, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan wrote, “Jitesh sharma will think what did i do so wrong to be missing out? Suryakumar Yadav need to be in form getting into the World Cup. Hoping for him to be scoring run vs NZ to feel good abt his game.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Kishan has been in good form lately in domestic cricket. He became only the second batter to get a ton in a final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His ton came in only 45 balls, the third-fastest by any batter in a tournament final in men's T20s.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: The bowling line-up has three frontline pacers and two frontline spinners. Bumrah will lead the pace attack and will have Arshdeep, Rana for support. Spinners Varun and Kuldeep will also be key.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Speaking during the press conference, Agarkar explained Gill's absence. He said, “Shubman Gill is short of runs at the moment and missed the last World Cup too.”

“You are looking at combinations. If your keeper was going to bat, he would bat at the top of the order. Shubman is unfortunate to miss out. Someone has to miss out when you pick 15,” he added.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: According the Sunny G, the x-factor is clear to him.

“Axar Patel, the vice-captain. He is the x-factor with the bat and with the ball. His batting has gone really up there. He can crash the ball everywhere. He's bowling, varying his pace, bowling across the crease. Bringing the speed variation, will get grip and turn. He's also an outstanding fielder. He will be the x-factor, cna use him at 5 or 6, and can bowling in the first 6 overs, he's capable of doing that. Him and Hardik Pandya will be the two.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

“The whole squad is such that it gives the captain and the coach a whole lot of options according to all the factors that come into play. There is no worry at all when they have these many options.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

“When you see someone performing, it's easy to pick him. Someone who has shone he can perform at that level. The kind of form he has shown in SMAT – performance in domestic cricket has to be the criteria, can't just be the IPL. The kind of comeback to lead his state to the title, very happy for him. But I also feel for Jitesh Sharma, did nothing wrong really. Tremendous wicketkeeper, and perhaps after MSD, the best DRS help to the captain. A little tough on him. All he has to do is go back to domestic cricket and perform.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

"Personally I'm very happy for Ishan Kishan. They way he's had to struggle, he's a very destructive player with a 200 in ODI cricket. He's a player for this format. To captain and guide your team to a win, the first title for your state, the return to the team is his reward. We saw him and Shreyas Iyer, what happened after the 2023 World Cup.

His way of playing, we have seen before, and whatever else in his life he needed to work on he has worked on, and on his performance. The kind of player who can win you a match himself. If he's batting you're never out of the game. Quality player making a comeback, I'm always happy."

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Saba Karim credits Agarkar and the committee:

“The first thing a selection committee does is look at top order batters. Once they decided they needed a wicketkeeper to open the batting, the rest falls in place easily. Two things they decided to do were course-correction and then a bold call. My compliments to Ajit and company because very seldom we see two big changes just before the World Cup. To take them see this call, they've relied on his current form and a solid backup player. They tried to incorporate him but expectations, Shubman Gill failed to rise to. I'm glad to see they've been able to do so.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

“I'll give Agarkar and selection 10 out of 10. This is not the end of the road (for Gill). This is a situation where combination has been seen first. I'm so happy that Rinku is there in the team, and with him Ishan Kishan is returning. He could be the possible player in the reckoning, we were looking at them in standby but they get the chance. They're in form, you can't take Jitesh when you need someone at 7-8. If a quality player like Shubman is not there, you need a power-packed player and a wicketkeeper at the top of the order. Axar Patel as a vice-captain is a great decision.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

"The omission of Shubman Gill is a surprise. Class act, quality batter. I know he struggled for a few matches, but class always tells in the end. He was coming after a long lay-off and wasn't in rhythm. When you have to go bang-bang, if your natural bent is to play along the ground, it doesn't come easy. We've seen in the IPL he's very good, so the lack of touch might have gone against him.

I do hope Shubman takes it in the right spirit. I want the very best for him. Some of these injuries have been freakish."

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: No standby players for this squad, says secretary Saikia. Since it's a home tournament, they don't want to name particular standby players.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

“We ask what everyone thinks is the best position. Is anyone compromised? There's a quality player coming in. No one is talking about Jaiswal anymore and he was in the previous World Cup squad. Hopefully we get it right come the World Cup.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: SKY explains that Tilak will be number 3 for the campaign, and that lefty-righty is 'overrated':

“We've come to a point, me and Gauti bhai and the other batters, lefty-righty is not what we're looking for. It's a little overrated. We've fixed number 3 for Tilak, 4 for myself, and then whoever is comfortable. We want to fix that role for Tilak so he knows what his role is and is happy in that position.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Agarkar says:

“When someone's playing Tests and not playing T20s, you can't say it's for combinations. When Sanju and Tilak made those 100s in South Africa last year, the Test team were in Australia. You saw Sanju opening last night and that tells you what the thinking is. With picking a second wicketkeeper for the top.”

SKY says:

“In any team sport you play, like all the bilaterals we've played, 2-3 players come and go. When the players came back, they get the opportunities. We are happy as we are right now. With the squad we have right now, we have 2-3 combinations ready. So happy with what we have right now.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Agarkar says:

“Your opinion could differ from mine. Sometimes when you pick players, it's difficult. We still think he's a quality player. You go through ups and downs with forms, but it's more about the combinations you want them playing.”

“Someone has to miss out, it's not because he's not a good player, and fortunately in Indian cricket we have options.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

“Shubman was the vice-captain, he's not in the team. Axar was the vice-captain when the T20s used to clash. About continuity, you're looking at combinations. If your keeper is going to bat at the top, you want a keepr who can play there. Jitesh was there, Shubman is a quality player and unfortunate to miss out. Combinations more than anything else, two keepers at the top. Rinku comes who gives that lower middle order option.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is pictured arriving in the press room, and seems he will be the one tasked with announcing the squad. Mere minutes away from all the information now.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Reports from the live broadcast state that the meeting has reached a conclusion, which means the only step remaining is the press conference itself. Coming soon.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: So SKY's delayed arrival has pushed the press conference by just a bit, but we shouldn't be too far away. The press room is getting prepared with live feed showing the mics and cameras set up. Should have confirmation very soon.