Why BCCI chose not to name any standby players for T20 World Cup 2026
BCCI has chosen not to name substitutes in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Here’s an explained look at the thinking behind the decision, including ICC regulations, injury protocols, team balance and why the selectors opted for a fixed 15-member group.
BCCI announced the 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup on Saturday, December 20. There were some unexpected changes in the squad due to the exclusion of Shubman Gill. He is currently the former vice-captain of the T20I team. Besides Gill, Jitesh Sharma was also left out. The wicketkeeper-batsman was replaced by Ishan Kishan. Rinku Singh returned to the T20I squad after being left out of the South Africa series. Axar Patel returned as vice-captain after missing the last two T20Is against South Africa due to injury.
In a surprising move, the selectors did not name a single substitute for the ICC event. Typically, reserve players are named for ICC events, as seen in the 2022 and 2025 Asian Cups. However, no replacement players have been announced for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
During a press conference, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained the logic behind this decision: “Since the entire tournament is taking place in the country, there are no reserves and we can replace any player at any time.”
India and Sri Lanka will co-host the ICC event. The Men in Blue will only travel to Sri Lanka for their league stage match against Pakistan, while Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.
India, which entered the 2026 T20 World Cup as the defending champions, will start its match against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium. Then, he will go to Namibia for his second match on February 12.
India is scheduled to face Pakistan in the much-anticipated match to be held on February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Their last match in the league will be played against the Netherlands on February 18.
The two semi-finals will be held on March 4 and 5, and the final of the biennial tournament will be held on March 8.
India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (week), Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh.
Also read| Why Shubman Gill was left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Ajit Agarkar breaks his silence
