itstargetnews
As India prepares to defend its crown 2026 T20 World Cupformer wicketkeeper batsman Parthiv Patel A bold selection strategy was adopted that prioritized current rhythms over past reputation.
Speaking on the “Star Sports” program “Follow the Blues” Parthiv laid out a blueprint that relegated several high-profile stars to the bench. His vision for the opener against the United States in Mumbai is one of ‘form first’, especially getting rid of some of the youthful feel in the squad. this gujarat titans The assistant coach believes that the intensity of the World Cup requires players to be in peak mental and physical condition. By selecting an experienced death bowler and a red-hot wicketkeeper, Parthiv sparked a massive debate in the cricketing fraternity.
Parthiv Patel decides to leave Harshit Rana out of India squad for T20 World Cup 2026
although Harshit Rana’s rapid rise and his skill in picking up crucial wickets in matches intense pulsed light and domestic circuits, Parthiv Patel A more conservative and battle-tested tempo attack was chosen. Parthiv believes the game’s reliability in a high-stakes tournament opener Jasprit BumrahLeadership attacks are non-negotiable. He believes that while Rana offers raw speed and bounce; Jasprit BumrahThe accuracy and Ardeep SinghThe versatility of the left arm provides a more complete defensive and offensive package. Rana remains a bright prospect for Parthiv but one must wait for the right opportunity.
“Then Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy. That will be my starting XI. I want to include Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah…” Parthiv said.
Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson? Parthiv reveals his wicketkeeping options for 2026 T20 World Cup
The most controversial part of Patel’s XI is the wicketkeeping position, which he clearly supports Ishan Kishan Exceed Sanzhou Samson. Before that, Kishan made an explosive return to form against New Zealand and highlighted his winning pedigree with a dominant century. Parthiv noted that Samson’s recent struggles with consistency have made it impossible to ignore Kishan’s momentum. He emphasized the team’s need for a goalkeeper who is not only reliable behind the post but also capable of tearing up games on the power play.
“I feel Ishan Kishan has also held up well. He has held up in the last game as well and will hold up in the warm-up matches as well. When the World Cup starts, you want your players who are in good form to stay in the team. In my opinion, when the team is selected, India must include Ishan Kishan.” the former cricketer added.
Tilak Varma’s strategic return
In order to solve the problem of the balance of the middle order, Parthiv insisted on immediately Tilak Varma Once he is declared fit to play. Varma is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the hospital Center of Excellence (CoE) With a lower abdominal injury, Patel sees him as an anchor that allows guys like Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey Play freely. By fielding Varma at No. 3, Patel aims to give India’s top order the left-hand consistency that was missing last year in high-pressure situations.
“I feel Tilak Varma will have a place in the starting XI for India once he is fit because of his performances and the way he has batted for India in the T20 format in different, different positions over the last one to one-and-a-half years. Apart from that, he will obviously play in the warm-up games as well.” Parthiv concluded.
Parthiv Patel-led India playing XI for 2026 T20 World Cup
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
