India to Announce T20 World Cup 2026 Squad on December 20 in Mumbai

India is set to take a major step in its preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026 as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepares to finalise and announce the squad on December 20 in Mumbai. The selection meeting will be held at the BCCI headquarters, where the Senior Men’s Selection Committee will also pick the squad for the upcoming home T20I series against New Zealand.

Following the selection meeting, the BCCI is expected to hold a press conference in which T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and selection committee chairperson Ajit Agarkar are likely to address the media and formally unveil the squads. The announcement is being keenly awaited, given that the T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the New Zealand series is seen as the final major preparation phase.

The timing of the meeting is significant, with the Indian team currently wrapping up its T20I series against South Africa. The final match of that series is being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, after which the captain is expected to return to Mumbai ahead of the selection meeting.

India’s calendar over the next two months is packed. After the South Africa series, the team will host New Zealand for a three-match ODI series starting January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series. This stretch is expected to be the last extended opportunity for the team management to test combinations, manage workloads and finalise roles ahead of the World Cup.

Defending the T20 World Cup will be a historic challenge. No team has successfully defended the T20 World Cup title, but under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India will aim to break that trend on home soil. The squad announcement on December 20 will therefore set the tone for the campaign and offer clarity on India’s core group.

While much of the squad selection appears straightforward, a few positions remain under intense debate. One of the most discussed names is Shubman Gill. Appointed vice-captain during the Asia Cup, Gill has struggled to replicate his success in other formats in T20Is. His inclusion at the top of the order led to Sanju Samson being pushed down the batting order and eventually out of the playing XI, a move that has drawn scrutiny.

Adding to the uncertainty, Gill recently picked up a foot injury, which ruled him out of the fourth T20I against South Africa in Lucknow. His availability for the series finale in Ahmedabad and for the New Zealand assignments remains under observation. The selectors will need to weigh his long-term value against current form and fitness.

As India edges closer to December 20, all eyes will be on Mumbai, where decisions taken by the selection committee could define the nation’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.