4 players in India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad who were also part of 2022 and 2024 editions

Team India's 15-member squad for the ICC Men's 2026 T20 World Cup was announced by the BCCI on Saturday, December 20. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Men in Blue in the prestigious tournament, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Significantly, Team India are the defending champions and would be looking to become the first team with back-to-back titles.

India have taken a big call ahead of the ICC event, dropping out-of-form batter Shubman Gill, who was the vice-captain during the recently concluded home series against South Africa. He has been replaced by keeper-batter Ishan Kishan. Also, finisher Rinku Singh has been recalled in place of Jitesh Sharma.

Four Indian players from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad were also part of the previous two editions played in 2022 and 2024. Take a look.

#1 Suryakumar Yadav

Team India skipper Suryakumar will be playing in his fourth consecutive T20 World Cup. He made his debut in the ICC event in the 2021 edition in the UAE, but did not have a lot to do. In three innings, he scored 42 runs at a strike rate of 144.82.

Suryakumar played six matches during the 2022 T20 World Cup held in Australia, scoring 239 runs at an average of 59.75 and a strike rate of 189.68, with three half-centuries. He scored 199 runs in eight innings in the 2024 edition at a strike rate of 135.37. Significantly, he took a sensational catch in the dying moments of the final against South Africa as India were crowned T20 world champions.

#2 Hardik Pandya

Seasoned all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be playing in his fifth consecutive T20 World Cup. He has featured in every edition of the tournament starting 2016. Pandya played a stellar role in India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and is being considered one of the team's X-factors for the 2026 edition as well.

Pandya did not have much to do with the bat in the 2016 edition held in India. In two innings, he scored 16 runs. With the ball, he picked up five wickets, but had an economy rate of more than 10. In the 2021 edition in the UAE, Pandya scored 69 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 153.33. He only bowled four overs in the tournament due to back injury concerns.

Pandya contributed 128 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 131.95 in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. With the ball, he claimed eight scalps at an economy rate of 8.11. The seasoned cricketer bowled the high pressure last over in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. He claimed 11 wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of 7.64. With the bat, Pandya scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57.

#3 Axar Patel

All-rounder Axar Patel has been a constant in the Indian T20 World Cup squad in the last three editions. He was the unsung hero of the Men in Blue's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph during the event held in the United States and the West Indies. Axar chipped in with crucial contributions with bat and ball when the team desperately needed them.

Axar had a disappointing 2022 T20 World Cup campaign, claiming three wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 8.62. With the bat, he scored nine runs in three innings. In 2024, Axar claimed nine scalps in eight games at an economy of 7.86. He was the Player of the Match in the semifinal against England, registering figures of 3-23. Axar then scored a crucial 47 off 31 in the final against the Proteas.

#4 Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has an impressive record in the T20 World Cup. In 14 matches across two editions, he has claimed 27 wickets at an average of 13.74 and an economy rate of 7.42. Along with Jasprit Bumrah, he will be crucial to Team India's fortunes as they look to defend their title in 2026.

Arshdeep played six matches in the 2022 edition, claiming 10 wickets at an average of 15.60 and an economy rate of 7.80, with a best of 3-32 against Pakistan. The left-arm seamer also picked up 17 wickets in eight matches in 2024, averaging 12.64 at an economy rate of 7.16. Arshdeep claimed 4-9 against UAE and 2-20 in the nail-biting final against South Africa in Bridgetown.

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Edited by Renin Wilben Albert