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Shreyas Iyer captain, Jaiswal opener- India’s parallel squad to beat T20 World Cup 2026 team

Kaushik Kashyap

Shreyas Iyer to lead, Yashasvi Jaiswal opens in India's parallel T20 WC squad. [Source - AFP]Shreyas Iyer to lead, Yashasvi Jaiswal opens in India's parallel T20 WC squad. [Source - AFP]

With less than 50 days to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India’s 15-member T20I squad has been announced. Shaped under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, Axar Patel joins as vice-captain, anchoring a strong and experienced leadership group.

Stars like Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah form the backbone of the squad, underlining India’s remarkable depth. 

As always, several deserving players miss out. Here, we explore a parallel 15-member Indian squad capable of matching, or even beating, India’s World Cup squad.

Parallel 15-member Indian T20I squad

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Khaleel Ahmed. 

Batters

A strong batting core blending elite powerplay impact, middle-order stability and consistency, featuring players who narrowly missed selection despite proven T20I and IPL performances.

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal - Terrific T20I record, scoring 723 runs at an astonishing strike-rate of 164.31 for India, arguably India’s best opener after Abhishek Sharma, offering fearless intent and consistency, making his World Cup omission highly debatable.
  • Ruturaj Gaikwad - An elegant and reliable top-order batter with superb form currently. He has been terrific for India in T20Is in the past, scoring 633 runs at an average of 39.56 and a strike rate of 143.53.
  • Shreyas Iyer - A natural leader with proven captaincy record and a middle-order mainstay. Despite 600+ runs in IPL 2025, injuries and selection dynamics kept him out of the T20 World Cup squad.
  • Sai Sudharsan - Consistent run-scorer in the IPL with valuable international experience in longer formats. The southpaw is technically compact and adaptable to multiple roles at top, here as a backup.

Wicketkeepers

Two contrasting wicketkeepers offering explosive intent and composed finishing skills, ensuring flexibility in batting combinations without compromising glovework quality.

  • Jitesh Sharma (wk) - An explosive keeper-batter, reliable behind the stumps, capable of finishing games under pressure, and one of most consistently included wicketkeeper-batters in the Indian side until recently.
  • Dhruv Jurel (wk) - A dynamic batter-keeper, dependable in the middle-order with strong finishing ability, and can also play at the top if the team requires.

All-rounders

Impact all-rounders who strengthen batting depth while contributing vital overs, providing balance, matchup advantages and tactical flexibility in modern-day T20 cricket.

  • Riyan Parag - One of India’s best pace-hitters and a proven performer in the middle order for both India and IPL franchises, adding valuable all-round options with his off-spin.
  • Nitish Kumar Reddy - India’s prolific pace-bowling all-rounder after Hardik Pandya. A composed batter, valuable for late-order hitting, and delivers effective medium-pace overs in all phases.
  • Krunal Pandya - Experienced left-arm spin all-rounder with India T20I experience and excellent recent IPL form, including a Player of the Match performance in the final.

Spinners

A wicket-taking spin combination focused on middle-overs dominance, capable of breaking partnerships and getting the best use of matchups in all conditions.

  • Yuzvendra Chahal - Part of the 2024 T20 World Cup India squad, one of India’s highest T20I wicket-takers and a proven match-winner with consistent IPL 2025 form, claiming 16 wickets.
  • Ravi Bishnoi – High-speed leg-spinner who excels against aggressive batters with sharp googly execution. Incredible T20I record for India with 61 wickets in 42 games at an average of 19.37.

Fast Bowlers

A well-rounded pace unit offering swing, bounce, left-arm variety and aggression, capable of controlling all three phases of a T20 innings.

  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar - A team India veteran in T20I with powerplay expertise, swing mastery and death-over experience make him a tactical asset.
  • Mohammed Siraj - High-intensity fast bowler who thrives in all phases with aggression, effective in all conditions, and had an incredible IPL 2025 form.
  • Prasidh Krishna - Tall pacer with extra bounce which is difficult to line up against, ideal for middle-overs breakthroughs. Highest wicket-taker in IPL 2025, in beast form as a genuine middle-overs enforcer.
  • Khaleel Ahmed - With his left-arm angle brings variety. He is effective with early breakthroughs, and was one of the best new-ball bowlers in IPL 2025.

Best possible XI 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer (C), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Yuzvendra Chahal.