India’s best XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Team India named their squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, as they aim to become the first team to win three titles in the tournament. The Indians will begin their campaign in the twenty-team biannual event with a Group A fixture against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. They will then play Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands to finishing their group stage run.

Unsurprisingly, Suryakumar Yadav has been announced as the captain of the side. However, the team re-appointed Axar Patel as the vice-captain, while Shubman Gill was dropped due to his poor form in the format. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan also made a comeback as the backup wicketkeeping option, with Sanju Samson being in the primary role and also the opening partner alongside Abhishek Sharma.

With not much time left for the global tournament, CricTracker analyses India's best playing combination that can help them lift the prestigious silverware, and also make them the first team to win a T20 World Cup at home.

Here's India's strongest Playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Top-order: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma

Abhishek Sharma is arguably among the strongest going batters in T20Is. He is ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20I Rankings for batters, courtesy of his hard-hitting prowess topped with consistency in the format. He will be opening alongside Sanju Samson, who is also going to be India's primary wicketkeeping option for the tournament. The duo will be aiming to provide solid starts to the Men in Blue, setting the tempo high early.

At No. 3, Southpaw Tilak Varma becomes the perfect option, as he has the ability to rack up a large amount of runs, take calculated risks, and eventually put up a big score on the board. He can take the game away from the opposition in no time, and will be the most vital cog in the batting unit, acting as a bridge between the top and the middle-order.