• Home
  • Cricket Analysis
  • India Squad For T20 Wc Smat Top Performers Who Could Have Been Picked Yet Missed Out

India squad for T20 WC- SMAT top performers who could have been picked yet missed out

Rajgeeta Yadav

Yashasvi Jaiswal [Source: AFP]Yashasvi Jaiswal [Source: AFP]

On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced India’s 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side in the shortest format, while Axar Patel has been named vice-captain in the absence of Shubman Gill.

At the same time, India have included Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh. Notably, Ishan has earned a return to the national setup after nearly two years following his outstanding domestic performances. 

Kishan finished as the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 and played a major role in guiding Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title, defeating Haryana by 69 runs in the final.

While the squad announcement brought clarity, there are several standout performers from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy who delivered exceptional performances and still missed out on selection. 

With that in mind, here is a look at the players who impressed in the domestic tournament and remained on the sidelines for T20 World Cup 2026.

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal stands out as one of the most notable omissions. The young Mumbai batter has already cemented his place as a key figure in India’s red-ball setup and has also shown his white-ball credentials in recent times.

  • Before entering the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Jaiswal arrived fresh from the New Zealand ODI series, where he capped off the tour with a magnificent century. 
  • Carrying that momentum into the domestic tournament, he began with a steady 29 and followed it up with a blistering 101 off just 50 balls. This explosive century quickly drew attention, especially at a time when concerns were growing over the form of other opening options.
  • Across three innings in the tournament, Jaiswal accumulated 145 runs at an impressive strike rate of 168.60 while maintaining a healthy average of 48.33.

However, the decision to leave him out appears to be linked to team balance. With Ishan Kishan included as an attacking opener who also provides wicket-keeping support, the selectors likely preferred a versatile backup option. 

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal enjoyed a remarkable Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign representing Karnataka. 

  • Throughout the tournament, he displayed consistency and attacking intent, finishing with 309 runs in six innings. His strike rate of 167.03 and an average of 61.80 showed just how dominant he was at the crease.
  • Notably, Padikkal’s performances reflected maturity and confidence, showing that he has evolved significantly as a T20 batter. Despite these impressive numbers, breaking into the current Indian top order remains a tough task.

It is important to note that India’s batting lineup already looks settled, especially at the number three position, where Tilak Varma has been delivering impactful performances. 

Additionally, Padikkal last featured for India in 2021, where he scored 38 runs across two innings. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the team management appears to be prioritising players with more recent international exposure and proven experience at the highest level.

Kumar Kushagra

Kumar Kushagra emerged as one of the breakout stars of the tournament. The 21-year-old wicket-keeper batter played a crucial role in Jharkhand’s historic title win and produced a match-winning knock of 81 runs off 38 balls in the final against Haryana.

  • Over the course of the tournament, Kushagra amassed 422 runs in 10 innings. He maintained a strike rate of 161.69 and an outstanding average of 60.29, numbers that underline his consistency and ability to perform under pressure.

Despite these impressive statistics, international exposure remains an important factor in selection. Kushagra is yet to make his debut for India, and the squad already features two established wicket-keepers in Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. 

Mohammed Shami

Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami also delivered a strong showing in the domestic season. 

In the recently concluded SMAT, he claimed 16 wickets in seven innings and recorded two four-wicket hauls.

Even so, fitness has been a recurring concern in recent times. Shami has not been a regular part of India’s T20 plans, and the team management has been cautious with his workload. With age and long-term fitness management playing a role in future planning, the selectors appear to be looking toward younger pace options for the shortest format.