Most teams have finalized their squads for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and some surprising players have been left out amidst the preparations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, and most teams have announced their lineups, with several big names missing. Selections have primarily been based on recent form, team balance, fitness concerns, and finding the right combination for the conditions in the subcontinent. Experienced players have been dropped due to consistent poor performance, while some players who performed well in domestic or franchise cricket have also been overlooked.
Five big players were not selected for the T20 World Cup 2026
1. Shubman Gill
The exclusion of India's ODI and Test captain, Shubman Gill, from the T20 World Cup squad has garnered considerable attention. During the World Cup preparations, Gill was considered India's vice-captain in T20Is and the first-choice opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. However, his recent performance has been disappointing. In 15 T20I matches, Gill managed only 219 runs at an average of 24.25, without scoring a single half-century.
The selectors prioritized current form and team balance. Ishan Kishan's impressive performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and his capabilities as a wicketkeeper-opener led to his selection. Gill was dropped to accommodate Rinku Singh in the middle order and maintain the desired team combination.
2. Haris Rauf
Pakistan recently announced its squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, and the most surprising omission was that of pacer Haris Rauf. This decision was unexpected, especially considering Rauf's recent performances in franchise cricket, where he was the leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash League. Haris Rauf international form has gone against him. He last played a T20I match in the Asia Cup final against India, where his expensive spell in the death overs contributed to Pakistan's defeat. He has since lost his place in the team.
3. Jitesh Sharma
The decision to exclude Jitesh Sharma from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad was not due to his form, but rather a tactical one. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that the team management prioritized a wicketkeeper who could bat in the top order, which significantly impacted the final team combination. While Jitesh has impressed in recent years as a lower-order finisher and a reliable wicketkeeping option, his role was similar to that of other players who could provide similar finishing skills without being specialist keepers.
India's think tank felt that an opening wicketkeeper would provide greater flexibility in the team combination, leading to Ishan Kishan's inclusion. Agarkar emphasized that Jitesh had done nothing wrong, but the team's preference for an opener-wicketkeeper ultimately led to his exclusion.
4. Liam Livingstone
The decision to exclude Liam Livingstone from England's provisional squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 was made following the all-rounder's poor form. Livingstone, once considered a reliable middle-order batsman, has been struggling for form since the 2024 T20 World Cup. In his last 13 T20I innings, he has scored only 275 runs at an average of 27.5, including just one half-century.
Livingstone was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹13 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. With the emergence of players like Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell, who have cemented their places in the team, the selectors decided to leave Livingstone out of the squad for this major tournament.
5. Ottneil Baartman
Despite being the most consistently impressive fast bowler in the SA20, right-arm pacer Ottniel Baartman was not included in South Africa's T20 World Cup squad. Baartman is the leading wicket-taker in SA20 history and also topped the wicket-taking charts in the recently concluded season, yet he was overlooked for selection, even as South Africa grapples with several injury concerns.
Ottneil Baartman, who was part of the Proteas' T20I squad in India and was among the leading wicket-takers there as well, revealed that he was not given a clear reason for his exclusion from the team.
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