New Delhi: Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee is set to select same Indian squads for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and the showpiece T20 World Cup in 2026, mentions a report in news agency PTI.
While the global cricketing event’s official schedule is yet to be announced but the tentative start date for the marquee event is for February 7, 2026. As per the ICC tournament rules, it is mandatory for the teams to submit their final 15-member squad a month prior to the start of the tournament.
The selection committee will announce their picks with an option tom make changes till a particular cut-off date. The identical rule was in place too for the 2024 edition held in the Americas which India won under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, the New Zealand T2oI series starts from January 21 and will be the last series before the marquee T20 World Cup.
BCCI source confirms development
‘With only 10 T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, you won’t see many changes happening in the squad proper unless someone is ruled out due to any specific injury,’ a source privy to development told PTI on condition of anonymity.
‘One of the biggest reasons being continuity and the 15 chosen for the series against the Black Caps won’t be tinkered with because of the short turnaround time.”
The five T20I matches against New Zealand will be played in Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Vizag (January) 28 and Trivandrum (January 31). It is also mentioned in the report that the South Africa T20I series will be the final chance for Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav to test a few players before New Zealand rubber which will be practice for the showpiece event.
Meanwhile, India are currently engaged in a Test series against the Proteas. The first Test match was won by the visitors at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata while the second Test match starts in Guwahati on Saturday.
(With PTI inputs)