Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has picked his ideal starting XI for the 2026 T20 World Cup after the Men in Blue’s 4-1 T20I series win over New Zealand (via Comments Comments). India’s first game against the United States 2026 T20 World Cup Met in Mumbai on February 7th.

although Sanzhou Samson With a severe deficit of runs, Rahane backed his former Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammate to open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. The veteran batsman picked No. 3 based on the injury status of Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma at the time.

Rahane joins captain Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, followed by Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel at Nos. 5 to 8. Finally, former captains Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy were ranked 9th to 11th.

If Rahane plays 11 games in the T20 World Cup, then Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and one of Tilak Varma or Ishan Kishan will warm up the bench.

Ajinkya Rahane’s ideal Indian team to play 11 matches in T20 World Cup 2026

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan/Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

Ajinkya names Team India’s star batsman as best performer in IND-NZ T20Is

Ajinkya Rahane picks wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan As the best performer in the India-New Zealand T20I series. The southpaw returns to the Indian team for the first time since December 2023.

Kishan immediately started his stellar domestic form, scoring 215 runs in four games at an average of nearly 54 with a strike rate of 231.18. After smashing 76 off 32 balls in the second T20I, the left-hand bowler ended the torment of the New Zealand attack with a staggering 103 runs off 43 balls in the final T20I.

Kishan’s stellar performance has led many to question Samson’s place as India’s opener in the XI. The latter endured a forgettable series against New Zealand, averaging 10 points in five games and finishing with 46 points.

Samson also struggled in T20Is last year, averaging just under 21 in 15 games and with a strike rate of 126.85.