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:

“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.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Sunil Gavaskar speaks to JioHotstar about what he thinks is going wrong for SKY with his batting:

“Nothing's wrong, what's been happening is that the first mistake he's making has been his last mistake. You usually have luck going your way, that's not what's happened with him. Lot of the times when he's trying to play the shot that gets him runs, he's getting out. The bat is turning in his hand trying to play the flick shot. His hand is loose if he is being caught at mid-on or mid-off. Just the bad luck.”

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Images from the selection meeting as the final pieces are put in place. The selectors and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also in attendance.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: After having to fly in from Ahmedabad following yesterday's T20I, a delay to Suryakumar Yadav's flight plans could reportedly force a slight delay in the presser.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Gearing up for the information from the press conference very soon. Of course, we have a rough idea, but certainties will only come by with official news.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: A look at what India's World Cup schedule looks like:

IND vs USA, Mumbai, 7 Feb

IND vs Namibia, Delhi, 12 Feb

IND vs Pakistan, Colombo, 15 Feb

IND vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad, 18 Feb

And if India should qualify to the Super 8:

Ahmedabad, 22 Feb

Chennai, 26 Feb

Kolkata, 1 March

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: So the selection meeting will currently be underway in Mumbai with Agarkar pictured having arrived at BCCI HQ. Big decisions currently being made for the defending champs.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: So just an hour away from when the release should come through with the information for the squads. Not expecting anything too shocking, as mentioned earlier, but let's wait and see. Agarkar and co's answers and rationale will be as significant as the names themselves.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: There were some concerns with India's middle order batting that cropped up during and after the Asia Cup – but Hardik Pandya has returned from his injury and hit the power-hitting heights of years gone by, playing two sensational knocks vs South Africa and regaining his six-stroke.

That's excellent news for India: not only is he a 3-4 over bowler when fit, but his batting versatility means he can perform anywhere from 4 down to 7. India simply look unstoppable when he's on song.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: What will be a quiet worry for Indian fans and staff will be how Suryakumar Yadav has struggled to be amongst the runs at all. Given his high-risk and high-octane style, it does tend to look very bad when SKY isn't on song – his struggle gets accentuated. But he still holds the ability to be the best and most creative batter in this format in the world – how can India ensure that is the version that arrives at the World Cup? Something to figure out over the coming weeks.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: The key difference for India over other teams has been how much they have been able to rely on Abhishek Sharma for good starts and the occasional big score. Abhishek fell just short of Kohli's record for the most T20I runs for India in a calendar year, but the fact that he was in that conversation in his first full year on the scene is telling: he is arguably India's batting MVP.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Gautam Gambhir will know that his combination will likely include Bumrah, Pandya, and Dube as the seam options, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy both playing every game, particularly on Indian surfaces. The last spot might see Arshdeep Singh rotate in and out with Axar Patel, depending on whether the pitch supports spin more, or if the need for extra batting is felt over the course of the tournament.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: The good thing for Gambhir and Gill alike is that there is no need to be hasty and pull the trigger with regards to his role in the team just yet: he has the opportunity to use the five matches agaisnt New Zealand as a last chance to sharpen himself in time for the World Cup, and that means he will back himself in those games too. If not, Sanju Samson is always on the sidelines, just as an emergency backup option if nothing else.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: What does India's 15 look like at the moment? Let's take a look back at the squad that was used for the recent series against South Africa:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar

14 of the 15 are likely going to be the same, short of injury concerns, but there is a chance that Rinku Singh is needed to come in just to add a little bit of batting steel with 3 frontline spin options already in the squad.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: What is expected to be the other major decision is a choice between Rinku Singh and the extra all-round presence of Washington Sundar.

India already have access to three all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel, but Gautam Gambhir might want access to a fourth. However, if Hardik or Jitesh are unavailable, the list of reliable finishers diminishes greatly, and Rinku Singh might be needed to come in for an emergency game or two as he did in the Asia Cup.

The extra spin of Sundar or the extra power of Rinku is a tough call to make, and one which will leave the other disappointed.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Ishan Kishan has been on the peripheries of the Indian team for a while now – there is no doubt he is a great player, but the options at hand have always been just a little bit better. Kishan has begun turning the tide: he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading from the front with 517 runs in 10 matches, at a strike rate just short of 200.

He was the top-scorer and the biggest six-hitter, and has blasted the selection committee's door down and demanded, at the very least, a little bit of attention. It will be tough for him to break into the opening corps – but there is an outside chance.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Increasingly it has become clear that India are ready to move on from Sanju Samson as the first-choice wicketkeeper, opting for Jitesh Sharma instead. Samson had a stellar end to 2024 and excellent start to 2025, but since has seen himself steadily moved on from regular playing time. He will likely go into the squad as the second wicketkeeper, that looks likely – but with a certain Ishan Kishan tearing things up in domestic cricket, there is a question that will be asked.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: This is the central debate that is sparking a lot of headaches and consternation. Shubman Gill has already earned captaincy in two of the three formats, and only this one remains. That is why Gill is in the squad – but does he make it better than Sanju Samson? Recent examples have created widening gaps in the faith Gill has been shown, and the question that needs to be answered is whether the team chosen is the one most likely to win, or one that proactively plans for the future even with some sacrifices in the now?

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Suryakumar Yadav will know this is likely his only chance to captain India at a tournament, and he gets to do so on home turf. The writing isn't on the walls by any means yet, but the expectation is that India will look to hand captaincy over to a younger member from the team. Confirmation from that shouldn't be expected today, but it will certainly be a talking point…

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Lastly in terms of preparation for India ahead of the World Cup is a five-match set against the Kiwis, who themselves will have a dent amount of firepower and will bring unique T20 skills to the table. In truth, India have proven themselves against their biggest challengers over the last couple of months, but things chance before tournaments – it becomes about the clutch gene.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: India will be confident heading into the new year after their most recent success, a comprehensive 3-1 performance which indicated this is a team that knows what its style is, and teammates who complement each other's strengths. The Proteas were runners up in 2024, but were brushed aside comfortably – sign of things to come?

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar will helm the press conference which will see the 15-member squad for the World Cup announced: it is expected to be the same as the one for the five-match series against New Zealand in the second half of January. The selectors will meet in Mumbai to confirm and notarize the squad Gautam Gambhir will have at his disposal during the tournament.

India squad announcement for T20 World Cup, LIVE Updates: An important day in the lead up to the T20 World Cup next February-March. Defending champions India are set to name their squad – who makes the cut, and who doesn't? Stay tuned to find out!