Four Indian Stars Who Now Look Unlikely for the 2026 T20 World Cup
India move to a younger, all-rounder-focused T20I squad, pushing Jaiswal, Reddy, Siraj and Iyer out of 2026 World Cup plans.
India will walk into the 2026 T20 World Cup as defending champions and co-hosts with Sri Lanka. The tournament begins on February 7, and India sit in Group A with USA, Namibia, Pakistan and Netherlands. With Suryakumar Yadav set to lead, the big story is India’s shift towards a younger, all-rounder-heavy squad.
This shift began soon after the 2024 win when Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja stepped away from T20Is. Their exits opened the door for a new core built around Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. Recent squads for South Africa and New Zealand show that selectors want continuity and multi-skill players.
This change has also pushed four well known names out of the realistic race for the 2026 World Cup.
Players Who Have Fallen Behind
Yashasvi Jaiswal has slipped out of the frame. He is now seen more as a long term Test player and his recent ODI form has been modest. The rise of Abhishek Sharma, along with Shubman Gill’s hold on the top order, has squeezed his chances. His omission from the South Africa T20Is makes a comeback tough.
Nitish Reddy had strong IPL buzz but remains far down the all-rounder list. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube are ahead of him and the team already has several power hitters who can bowl. Selectors do not seem ready to fast track him yet.
Mohammed Siraj was part of India’s 2024 title run but has dropped in T20I plans under Gautam Gambhir. Pacers like Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna are now preferred as India look for bowlers who offer more variation at the death. Siraj has not featured in recent squads which signals a clear shift.
Shreyas Iyer’s case is more unfortunate. He is not a regular in T20Is and is currently recovering from a serious spleen injury he picked up during an ODI in Sydney. With the team moving towards flexible hitters who can bowl if needed, his path back looks very narrow.
As India prepare to defend their crown at home, the message from selectors is simple. Roles matter more than reputation. Youth, versatility and continuity are driving the build up to 2026, leaving these four players as long shots for the final squad.
