Indian selectors on Saturday dropped Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill from the T20 squad for the World Cup in February following a prolonged slump in form.
The 26-year-old has scored just 291 runs in his last 15 T20 matches at an average of 24.25.
Despite similar concerns over form, batter Suryakumar Yadav was retained as captain. A T20 specialist, Suryakumar has managed only 244 runs across his last 22 innings in the format without registering a half-century.
All-rounder Axar Patel was named vice-captain.
The same squad will also play a five-match home T20 International series against New Zealand starting January 21, which will serve as India’s final international assignment before the World Cup.
The 10th edition of the tournament, to be hosted jointly by Sri Lanka and India, will feature 20 teams. India are the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the 2024 final in Barbados.
World Cup T20 squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.
Source: AFP