Aakash Chopra picks India squad for T20 World Cup 2026; leaves out Yashasvi Jaiswal

Former batter Aakash Chopra picked India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee ICC event is set to take place in February next year in India and Sri Lanka.

He named a 15-member squad for the Men in Blue. Aakash Chopra went with the pair of Abhishek Sharma and vice-captain Shubman Gill as his openers. He then picked Tilak Verma and captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson as the wicketkeepers.

The former batter went with four all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. He then picked Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy as his two spinners. Finally, he wrapped up the squad with Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana as the three fast bowlers.

Aakash Chopra's India squad for T20 World Cup 2026 (via 2 Sloggers YouTube channel): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gil, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

The former batter left out star batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, he hoped for the left-hander to make the actual squad. While he wanted to include Jaiswal himself, he was unable to fit him in the 15-member squad.

"I think Yashasvi Jaiswal will be there. I want him to be there in that squad. But we will have to see what changes till then. I am sad for Jaiswal as I am not able to make a place for him," he said.

Jaiswal has played 23 T20Is so far. He has scored 723 runs at an average of 36.15 and a strike-rate of 164.31 with a hundred and five half-centuries. He has been impressive in the IPL as well, scoring 2166 runs from 67 matches at a strike-rate of 152.85 with two hundreds and 15 half-centuries.

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India's dominant run in T20Is ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

India have been dominant in the shorter format and are on the right path ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. They won the Asia Cup 2025 and were unbeaten throughout the tournament.

The Men in Blue won seven matches, including their victory over Pakistan in the final. They then carried the momentum into the T20I series against Australia Down Under. It was a five-match series, which India won 2-1.

Before the T20 World Cup 2026, they have two more T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand at home. They will be keen to win as many games and get their combination right for the marquee tournament.