IPL team-wise list of players named in India's squad for NZ T20Is and 2026 T20 World Cup

Team India announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand and the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue are set to host the Kiwis for five T20Is before heading to defend their title at the marquee ICC event.

The squads were announced on Saturday, December 20. Notably, the squads for the New Zealand series and the 2026 T20 World Cup are the same. The 15-member squad will be led by Suryakumar Yadav. Shockingly, Shubman Gill was dropped, with Axar Patel being named the vice-captain.

India are the defending champions, having won the 2024 T20 World Cup. The squad announced for the upcoming edition features players from multiple IPL teams. Players from seven teams have been included. There are no players in the squads from defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

India squad for New Zealand T20Is and 2026 T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

On that note, let us take a look at the IPL team-wise list of players named in India's squad for the New Zealand T20Is and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

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#1 Gujarat Titans (GT) - 1 player

Just one player has been named from the IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT). It is all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was retained by the franchise for the 2026 edition. Sundar has been picked as the fourth spinner in the squad.

Sundar played just one match in India's recently concluded T20I series against South Africa. While he did not get the opportunity to bat, he returned figures of 0/30 from four overs. Sundar has played 58 T20Is so far. He has 51 wickets with 254 runs.

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#2 Punjab Kings (PBKS) - 1 player

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is the lone player to feature from the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who were the runners-up in IPL 2025. He picked up five wickets from four matches in the recent South Africa series.

Arshdeep will be a key asset for India at the 2026 T20 World Cup. He has excelled over the years in the format, delivering consistently with the ball. The left-arm quick is also the highest wicket-taker for the country in T20Is with 110 wickets from 72 games at an average of 18.90 and an economy of 8.40.

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#3 SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) - 2 players

Two players will have been picked in the squads from the former IPL champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Opener Abhishek Sharma was a no-brainer and will play a key role for India at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The left-hander has been in blistering form in 2025, scoring 859 runs from 21 T20Is at an average of 42.95 and a strike rate of 193.46 with a hundred and five half-centuries.

His SRH teammate Ishan Kishan was rewarded for his strong domestic performances and returned to the squad. Ishan last played a T20I in 2023. He led Jharkhand to victory at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, scoring a century in the final. The left-hander ended as the highest run-getter of the tournament with 517 runs from 10 games at a strike rate of 197.32 with two hundreds and as many fifties.

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#4 Delhi Capitals (DC) - 2 players

Two key players in the Indian squad are from the Delhi Capitals (DC). All-rounder Axar Patel, who is also the DC skipper, has been named the vice-captain. He played a huge role in the 2024 T20 World Cup and will be expected to contribute in a similar way once again.

Star wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also been named in the squad. In the limited chances against South Africa recently, Kuldeep has been among the wickets, showcasing his class. With the T20 World Cup being at home in 2026, he will have a massive role to play for the Men in Blue to defend their title.

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#5 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - 2 players

Two players have been picked from the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). All-rounder Shivam Dube has been instrumental to India's success at the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup 2025. His batting in the middle overs and ability to chip in with a few overs will remain critical.

Wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson, who CSK traded in from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) before the IPL 2026 auction, is set to be the first-choice opener alongside Abhishek, with Gill being excluded from the squad. Samson and Abhishek have had immense success at the top as a pair in the past and will look to replicate the same once again.

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#6 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - 3 players

Three players from the three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are a part of India's squads. Pacer Harshit Rana, who plays all formats for the national team, has been included. Harshit has impressed with the new ball in the powerplay. Playing an ICC event in the format will come as a massive learning curve for the young pacer, along with being a huge opportunity as well.

Star mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy will be expected to trouble the batters as he has throughout. He bagged four wickets in the final T20I against South Africa and has been in exceptional form in 2025.

Batter Rinku Singh, who was left out for the South Africa T20Is, returned to the squad. He has played a couple of impactful knocks in the SMAT 2025-26.

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#7 Mumbai Indians (MI) - 4 players

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have the most players included in the India squad, with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah being named.

Suryakumar has been out of form with the bat but has done well as captain of the team. He will hop to regain his form and lead the Men in Blue to victory at the World Cup. Tilak will be crucial in the middle order. He has done extremely well and even slammed a 42-ball 73 in the final T20I against South Africa. In the same game, Hardik Pandya also smashed a swashbuckling 63 off just 25 balls. His all-round contributions will be key.

Lastly, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be the spearhead of the bowling attack. Bumrah's experience and ability to deliver under pressure were on display in the fifth T20I, where he returned figures of 2/17 from four overs.

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Edited by Rishab Vm