5 Indian players who will be featuring in the T20 World Cup for the first time ft. Abhishek Sharma

The Indian team for the ICC Men's 2026 T20 World Cup was announced on Saturday, December 20. While Suryakumar Yadav has been retained as captain despite his poor batting form, Shubman Gill has been dropped following a string of low scores. With Gill out of the 15-member squad, seasoned all-rounder Axar Patel was reinstated as vice-captain.

Gill was replaced by keeper-batter Ishan Kishan in the Indian team. The left-hander had a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led Jharkhand to victory, top-scoring with 517 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32. Apart from Gill, stumper Jitesh Sharma was left out of India's 2026 T20 World Cup, with finisher Rinku Singh making a comeback.

Five players in the Men in Blue's 15-member squad will be featuring in the T20 World Cup for the first time. Take a look.

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#1 Abhishek Sharma

Aggressive opening batter Abhishek Sharma is all set to make his T20 World Cup debut. There will be high expectations from the southpaw following some dazzling performances in the format in the build-up to the ICC event, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Having made his T20I debut in July 2024, Abhishek has featured in 33 matches, scoring 1,115 runs at an average of 35.96 and a strike rate of 188.02, with two hundreds and six half-centuries. His best of 135 came off 54 balls against England at the Wankhede Stadium in February this year. The knock featured seven fours and 13 sixes. He also hit 100 off 47 against Zimbabwe in Harare in July 2024.

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#2 Tilak Varma

Left-handed batter Tilak Varma is expected to be a key member of the Indian team during the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old made his T20I debut in August 2023, but did not find a place in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. In 40 matches, the southpaw has scored 1,183 runs at an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09, with two hundreds and six half-centuries.

Varma's tons came in back-to-back matches against South Africa. He hammered 107* off 56 balls in Centurion in November 2024 and followed it up with 120* off 47 deliveries in Johannesburg. The Mumbai Indians (MI) star also impressed in the recently concluded T20I series against the Proteas. In four innings, he scored 187 runs at an average of 62.33 and a strike rate of 131.69.

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#3 Washington Sundar

All-rounder Washington Sundar made his T20I debut back in December 2017, but is yet to play a T20 World Cup match. He was close to getting picked in the 2021 edition, but was ruled out due to a fractured finger. In 2022 as well, injuries and fitness issues hurt his chances. In a change of fortunes, Sundar finds his name in the 15-member squad for next year's T20 World Cup.

Sundar has the experience of 58 T20I games in which he has claimed 51 wickets at an average of 22.76 and an economy rate of 6.91. The off spinner can bowl inside the powerplay if needed. With the bat, he has scored 254 runs at an average of 16.93 and a strike rate of 134.39.

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#4 Harshit Rana

Young Team India pacer Harshit Rana is also set to get his first taste of the T20 World Cup. Having made his T20I debut in January this year, Harshit has played six T20Is in which he has claimed seven wickets at an average of 24.71 and an economy rate of 10.17. The 24-year-old has impressed with his pace and some experts reckon he could be a surprise factor in the ICC event.

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#5 Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh was dropped for the T20I series against South Africa, but has been recalled to the T20 World Cup squad. The 28-year-old was among India's traveling reserves during the 2024 edition. Picked as a finisher, the southpaw has played 35 T20Is in which he has scored 550 runs at an average of 42.30 and a strike rate of 161.76, with three half-centuries.

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Edited by Renin Wilben Albert