With a new head coach and some significant retirements coming after the 2024 T20 World Cup, here is a look towards the future. What could India's starting XI for the 2026 T20 World Cup look like?

The India men's T20I team is entering a period of transition, driven by the exits of some key personnel. Head coach Rahul Dravid's tenure ended in June, and Gautam Gambhir will be replacing him. The side's second men's T20 World Cup trophy was also followed by the T20I retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, three giants of the game down the years.

The first major trophy on the horizon for India's new coach is the Champions Trophy in 2025, but on the T20 front another World Cup looms in 2026. Here is what their starting XI for that tournament could look like.

What is the template for 2026?

At this point, there is little to go off in terms of what Gambhir's preferences will be for the India T20 setup. His stint at Kolkata Knight Riders could provide a clue, but in a tournament with different rules, as well as conditions and players, it cannot be a simple copy-paste job.

Using the 2024 winners as a template, the basic structure of the team could look a little bit like this — batting up to No.8, a healthy mix of left- and right-handed batters and a 3-3 or 4-2 split of pacers and spinners depending on conditions (Hardik Pandya's fitness is crucial to this aspect).

Changes from 2024: Who stays, who is out?

The outs from 2024 are quite straightforward, with three of them official. Openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be out. The other eight which formed India's preferred XI in 2024 are all in with a shout of making it to 2026, as well as three of the substitutes. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will likely not make it in two years' time, although the door is not officially closed on that.

In terms of confirmed places in the XI for 2026, there are three. The Mumbai Indians trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, fitness permitting particularly in the case of the latter two, are locks in virtually any T20 team in the world. All three are also candidates to become India captain, filling in the void left by Rohit Sharma.

Looking to 2026: Who will make the cut for India?

Openers

The most pressing question at the moment for India is that of the two opening slots. At present, the standout candidates appear to be Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Each player has opened 17 times for India since the 2022 T20 World Cup, the most of any player. As a pair, they have opened together just six times, but were paired at the first available opportunity following the World Cup, against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

But India are spoilt for choice here. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma are more than capable players at the top of the order, with Abhishek bringing an explosiveness that very few can match. This was on full display during his century against Zimbabwe last Sunday (July 7).

The most exciting pairing of these four is that of the left-handers, Jaiswal & Abhishek. Another point in the latter's favour is that he can bowl two overs of left-arm spin on most days, and four overs in a pinch. At this point though, it seems likely that at least one of Gill and Gaikwad will play consistently for India, taking up an anchor role (whether or not such a style of play is required in T20 cricket is an entirely different debate).

Middle- and lower-order

Suryakumar Yadav is a lock for India, either at No.3 or No.4, but the question of Rishabh Pant is an interesting one. The current team management has liked the idea of him batting at No.3, but there have been mixed results so far. Dropping him is also tricky as that would necessitate a wicketkeeper coming in, most likely Sanju Samson, who bats at No.3 for Rajasthan Royals.

If India want a left-hander at No.3, Abhishek Sharma is an option if he is not used at the top. But in all likelihood, this will be a straight shootout between Pant and Samson, with Pant the favourite for now.

Another spot in the middle-order is locked, with Hardik Pandya playing as primarily as a finisher and the seam-bowling all-rounder. There is a degree of flexibility between No.5, No.6 and No.7, and another one of these three slots will likely be taken up by Rinku Singh, who is near-on India's best batter in the death overs of T20 cricket.

The third slot here is up for grabs. If India play a bowling option in Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, then Shivam Dube or Riyan Parag could play, and perhaps bat the highest of the three, at No.5. This spot could also be taken up by Sanju Samson as a spin-hitter, or Dhruv Jurel as a wicketkeeper-cum-finisher.

If Abhishek does not make the XI (which seems likely at this point), this could go to an off-spinning all-rounder like Washington Sundar, with Axar Patel a near-certainty at No.7 or No.8.

Bowling attack

India's primary fast bowlers in T20 cricket are Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Both should keep their spots in 2026. If India play two all-rounders in Sundar and Axar Patel, the final slot could go to a third pacer, possibly Mohammed Siraj. Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar are also likely to be vying for this. A wildcard in the form of Mayank Yadav is also a possibility.

If India want a frontline spinner to complete the bowling attack, wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi are the prime candidates, with Kuldeep likely the favourite due to his experience and left-arm angle.

An interesting case pops up if Harshit Rana comes into the scheme of things in the next 24 months. He has the ability to hit a long ball at No.8, meaning he could potentially bat there and play as India's third seamer (in place of an all-rounder like Sundar), allowing them to fit in Kuldeep or Bishnoi as well. But this is still a long way away now.

In 2026, India's lineup for the World Cup could well look like this:

  • Shubman Gill
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal
  • Rishabh Pant / Sanju Samson (wk)
  • Suryakumar Yadav
  • Rinku Singh
  • Hardik Pandya
  • Washington Sundar
  • Axar Patel
  • Arshdeep Singh
  • Jasprit Bumrah
  • Kuldeep Yadav / Mohammed Siraj

In the case of an all-rounder (i.e. Abhishek Sharma) playing at the top of the order, the composition would change slightly, to something like the following:

  • Abhishek Sharma
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal
  • Sanju Samson (wk) (offsetting the number of left-handers)
  • Suryakumar Yadav
  • Shivam Dube
  • Rinku Singh
  • Hardik Pandya
  • Axar Patel
  • Arshdeep Singh
  • Jasprit Bumrah
  • Kuldeep Yadav / Mohammed Siraj

Follow Wisden for all ZIM vs IND series updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.

Related tags:

FeaturesIndia cricket news