![Australia squad for T20 World Cup [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1767250859279_Australia squad (1).jpg)
Australia squad for T20 World Cup [Source: AFP]
On Thursday, Australia officially announced their provisional 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played across Sri Lanka and India. The selection panel opted for a balanced mix of experience and youth, while placing trust in players who have delivered consistently in high-pressure tournaments.
One of the biggest talking points from the announcement was the absence of Mitchell Owen, who missed out as the team management preferred four specialist spin options in the final group. Another noticeable decision was naming Josh Inglis as the only wicketkeeper in the squad, leaving no backup gloveman for the tournament.
Meanwhile, the availability of star fast bowler Pat Cummins remains uncertain and will depend on the outcome of a back scan scheduled later this month. As per ICC regulations, teams are allowed to make changes to their squads until January 31, giving Australia some flexibility before the tournament begins.
IPL 2026 franchise-wise representation in Australia's squad
Several Australian players selected for the T20 World Cup squad are set to feature in IPL 2026. Below is a detailed look at how IPL franchises are represented in the Australian squad.
PBKS - Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly
Punjab Kings have the highest number of players from Australia’s World Cup squad, with three names included.
- Marcus Stoinis continues with PBKS after being retained following an impressive IPL 2025 season.
- Xavier Bartlett is another Australian player associated with the franchise. Bartlett is recognised for his disciplined bowling, his skill in swinging the new ball, and his composed mindset during high-pressure moments.
- Meanwhile, Cooper Connolly is a new addition to the Punjab Kings squad for the 2026 season. He was picked up for INR 3 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. Notably, Connolly adds flexibility to the team as a left-handed batting all-rounder who can increase the scoring rate in the middle overs.
LSG - Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis
LSG feature two Australian players in the World Cup 2026 squad, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis.
- Notably, Marsh enjoyed an outstanding IPL 2025 season while playing as a specialist batter, scoring 627 runs in 13 innings. His consistent run-scoring led to his retention for the 2026 season.
- Josh Inglis joined LSG after an intense bidding battle at the IPL 2026 auction, where the franchise secured him for INR 8.6 crore.Inglis adds strength to the wicketkeeping and batting department.
SRH - Pat Cummins, Travis Head
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have two Australian players in the World Cup squad.
- Pat Cummins and Travis Head, both players, form an important part of the franchise’s core group.Travis Head has established himself as a destructive opener alongside Abhishek Sharma, delivering strong starts through his fearless power-hitting across recent seasons.
- Cummins continues as SRH captain for the third straight year after leading the team to the IPL final in 2024. Despite a mixed 2025 season, the franchise retained him, showing confidence in his leadership and match-winning ability with the ball.
CSK - Nathan Ellis, Matthew Short
The CSK contribute two players to Australia's World Cup squad, Nathan Ellis and Matthew Short.
- Notably, Ellis was retained ahead of IPL 2026, as CSK value his experience and ability to perform under pressure. His skill set adds balance to the bowling attack, especially in combinations involving both pace and spin.
- Matthew Short was picked up in the IPL 2026 mini-auction for INR 1.50 crore. His explosive batting and flexibility across roles provide CSK with added depth in the middle order.
RCB - Tim David
Tim David is the sole representative from RCB in Australia’s World Cup squad. Retained for INR 3 crore, the powerful middle-order batter played impactful cameos during IPL 2025. David scored 187 runs in nine innings with an impressive strike rate of 185.14, proving his value as a finisher.
KKR - Cameron Green
Cameron Green is the only Australian from KKR. Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history after being bought for INR 25.20 crore at the 2026 auction. Notably, Green is a dependable top-order batter who brings consistency and all-round value throughout a long season.
Australia squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
.jpg?type=mq "Ex-PAK star on PSL")
.jpg?type=mq "AUS strongest XI")
