5 Indian Players Likely to Miss Out on T20 World Cup 2026, Three Were Part of Champion Squad

The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be announced on 20th December. The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year. India enters the competition as the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the 2024 edition. With Rohit Sharma retired and Virat Kohli stepping away from T20 internationals, the team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav this time.

However, for some established players, making the squad looks increasingly difficult. Here are five Indian cricketers who may miss out:

1. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi has previously been ranked the world’s number one T20 bowler. The leg-spinner has taken 61 wickets in 42 T20 internationals. Despite his impressive record, he hasn’t played for India since IPL 2025, and with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in contention, his chances for the World Cup appear slim.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal was included as a backup opener in the last T20 World Cup. In 23 T20 internationals, he has scored 723 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 164. Yet, competition for opening slots makes his selection uncertain.

3. Mohammed Siraj
Since Harshit Rana’s debut, Mohammed Siraj has not played in T20s for India. He was part of last year’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, playing only in matches held in the USA, while he remained on the bench during the West Indies leg.

4. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant remains a regular in India’s Test side, but limited opportunities in ODIs and T20s have restricted his chances. With Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson in the T20 squad, Pant was also omitted from the Asia Cup 2025 team, making World Cup selection unlikely.

5. Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh is capable of securing a spot in any team’s playing XI, yet he was left out of the previous T20 World Cup squad. In 35 T20 internationals, he has scored 550 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 162. Despite this, competition makes his inclusion in 2026 uncertain.

As India prepares for the T20 World Cup, tough choices await the selectors, with some experienced and talented players potentially missing out.