The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced India’s squad for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England, and the selections signal the beginning of a new chapter in the team’s white-ball journey. While the core of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad remains intact, the latest squad features a new captain, several fresh faces, and the absence of a few established stars.
Shreyas Iyer replaces Suryakumar Yadav as captain
Perhaps the biggest change is at the top. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed India’s new T20I captain, taking over from Suryakumar Yadav, who led India following the 2026 T20 World Cup triumph. The move marks the start of a fresh leadership cycle as India begins preparations for the 2028 T20 World Cup.Tilak Varma has also been elevated to the role of vice-captain, underlining the management’s faith in the young left-hander as a future leader.
Six new faces, Six major exits
Compared to the T20 World Cup squad, India have made six significant changes.Players who featured in the World Cup setup but are absent from the Ireland and England tour squad include Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Rinku Singh. While Bumrah and Hardik have been rested and managed with long-term fitness goals in mind.The incoming players are Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi headlines the new-look squad
No selection has generated more excitement than that of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter has completed one of the most remarkable rises in Indian cricket history. After dominating the Under-19 World Cup and producing a sensational IPL 2026 season, Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden senior India call-up. The left-handed prodigy scored 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30 during IPL 2026 and is now on the verge of becoming the youngest player ever to represent India’s men’s team.
India’s T20 World Cup Squad 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj (replacement)
India T20I Squad for Ireland and England
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
