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Yashasvi Jaiswal not in T20 WC plans: Major takeaways from India squad for SA T20Is

Rajgeeta Yadav

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been overlooked [Source: AFP]Yashasvi Jaiswal has been overlooked [Source: AFP]

On Wednesday, India announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team for this five-match T20I series starting December 9. His leadership will be closely watched, especially as India tests some new combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, there are some big names making a return, some new inclusions, and a few surprising omissions. Here’s a closer look.

India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back in the squad after being sidelined for over two months due to injury. His return adds both firepower and balance to the team, giving India an extra bowling and batting option. 

Shubman Gill, India’s T20I vice-captain, is also included in the squad, but his participation will depend on fitness clearance following a neck injury he suffered in the first Test against Australia in Kolkata.

Notably, two players who have been left out from India’s last T20I squad are Rinku Singh and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Rinku Singh snubbed despite performing well

Rinku Singh has been out of the team despite a strong run in domestic cricket and the IPL. He scored 206 runs in IPL 2025 and shone in the Uttar Pradesh T20 league with an average of 62, including a century. In the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, he averaged 34 with two centuries across innings.

Despite this form, Rinku didn’t get a chance to bat in Australia and was only included in the XI for the final T20I, which was washed out after just 4.5 overs. 

It can be said that the team management seems to be prioritising players who can bat deep into the order while offering multiple bowling options.

Nitish Kumar Reddy misses out; why?

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had made his ODI debut against Australia when Hardik was injured, has also been omitted. Notably, his performances weren’t impressive; he scored just 27 runs in two innings and didn’t take a wicket. 

With Hardik back, the all-rounder positions are crowded, with Shivam Dube and Hardik taking the fast-bowling all-rounder spots, leaving Reddy out of the T20I squad.

Yashasvi Jaiswal still on sidelines

Another big name missing from the squad is Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young opener, who last featured in a T20I back in 2024, now appears unlikely to be part of India’s plans for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. 

While a strong run in the ODI format could have improved his chances, his inconsistent performances there seem to have worked against him. As a result, selectors appear hesitant to bring him back into the T20 setup.

Moreover, Jaiswal has not been viewed as a backup option in India’s limited-overs plans for quite some time. This, in turn, suggests that the team management is leaning toward players who offer greater versatility, rather than relying on specialist top-order batsmen.

India opt for more spin

A noticeable trend in this squad is India’s clear preference for spin, likely with the T20 World Cup in mind. The squad includes four specialist spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. 

With the World Cup set to be played on spin-friendly tracks in India and Sri Lanka, this strategy shows that India is thinking ahead, building a squad that can exploit conditions at home.