The Indian selectors are all set to announce the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the 20th of December, and it has been an open secret for a long time that the 35-year-old captain, Suryakumar Yadav, might just not be the ideal captaincy candidate to continue in the post-ICC T20 World Cup era, reported PTI.
The wait is finally over, as the defending champions are on the brink of entering another ICC T20 World Cup campaign, and the team selections are on the sheets. The Indian selectors are not seemingly about to make any revolutionary changes.
The BCCI will be making a formal announcement for the 15-member squad on Saturday, the 20th of December. The BCCI would, however, have the liberty to make changes to the squad until the day of the start of the World Cup, that is, the 7th of February.
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Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly unlikely to continue as India’s T20I captain
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been of major concern to the Indian side, as it has been over 14 months since the Indian skipper has failed to make it count with his bat. His form has come under the scanner on multiple occasions; the only reason he has held on to his spot is his captaincy.
The player, who is 35 years old, has been lacking form for over a year now, and with so many promising players still awaiting a spot in the Indian T20I side, Suryakumar Yadav’s form has to be scrutinized following the World Cup.
The first step towards the motive is to remove him from the captaincy post T20 World Cup, and though everyone in the committee and the BCCI has been silent on this matter, the message seems imminent within the dressing room. Gambhir has also hinted towards the same, calling out Shubman Gill’s name for the all-format captaincy for India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal might be backed as a backup opener ahead of the T20 World Cup
Shubman Gill has also been retaining his spot in the team at the back of his poor form, the reasons being his vice-captaincy and the immense faith of the head coach, Gautam Gambhir. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been eager to make an entry into the playing XI from the sidelines.
Jaiswal played an impactful series against South Africa, as he was an eminent run-scorer, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer for India in the series with a maiden hundred as well. He has also proved over time and again that he is a more versatile shot-maker than both Shubman Gill and his backup, Sanju Samson.
It will be interesting to see whether India names him as a backup in the World Cup squad and tries him with a game or two in the New Zealand series, since the Men in Blue will play the series with their World Cup squad.
Should India drop Washington Sundar to make way for Rinku Singh?
The only weak link in India’s current T20I squad seems to be Washington Sundar, who has neither proved to be effective nor has any specific role in the side. Sundar is a backup player, and that too as a bowling all-rounder.
With the likes of Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav already in the squad, no further spinners would be needed. India could rather name Rinku Singh, the left-handed middle-order batter who can replace anyone injured, or even come in to replace Shivam Dube or Axar Patel, if they fail to deliver enough for the World Cup.
Rinku Singh has been snubbed from the T20I squad after the Asia Cup, since, according to Gambhir, the T20 format needs only players who can deliver with both bat and ball.
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