As India prepares to defend their crown in the T20 World Cup 2026, former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has stirred the pot with a bold selection strategy that prioritizes current rhythm over past reputation.
Speaking on the Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues,’ Parthiv laid out a blueprint that sees several high-profile stars relegated to the bench. His vision for the tournament opener against the USA in Mumbai is defined by a ‘form-first’ philosophy, notably moving away from some of the squad’s younger sensations. The Gujarat Titans assistant coach believes the intensity of a World Cup demands players who are already in peak mental and physical condition. By choosing experienced death-bowlers and a red-hot wicketkeeper, Parthiv has sparked a massive debate across the cricketing landscape.
Parthiv Patel’s decision to snub Harshit Rana from India’s XI for T20 World Cup 2026
Despite Harshit Rana‘s rapid rise and his knack for picking up crucial wickets in the IPL and domestic circuits, Parthiv Patel has opted for a more conservative and battle-hardened pace attack. Parthiv believes that in a high-stakes tournament opener, the reliability of a Jasprit Bumrah-led attack is non-negotiable. He argued that while Rana offers raw pace and bounce, the combination of Jasprit Bumrah’s precision and Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm variety provides a more complete defensive and offensive package. For Parthiv, Rana remains a brilliant prospect, but one that must wait for the right opening.
“Then Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy. That will be my playing XI. I would like to include both Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah…” Parthiv said.
Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson? Parthiv reveals his wicketkeeping choice for T20 World Cup 2026
The most contentious part of Patel’s XI is the wicketkeeping slot, where he has unequivocally backed Ishan Kishan over Sanju Samson. This follows Kishan’s explosive return to form against New Zealand, highlighted by a dominant century that reminded selectors of his match-winning pedigree. Parthiv noted that Samson’s recent struggles with consistency make it impossible to ignore Kishan’s momentum. He emphasized that the team needs a wicketkeeper who isn’t just reliable behind the stumps but can also tear the game apart during the Powerplay.
“I feel Ishan Kishan is keeping quite well too. He kept in the previous match as well, and will also keep in the warm-up match. You want your in-form player in the team when the World Cup starts. In my opinion, when the team selection happens, India will have to include Ishan Kishan.” the former cricketer added.
The strategic return of Tilak Varma
Addressing the middle-order balance, Parthiv insisted on the immediate inclusion of Tilak Varma as soon as he is declared match-fit. Varma has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for a lower abdominal injury, and Patel views him as the anchor that allows the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to play with freedom. By slotting Varma at No. 3, Patel aims to give the Indian top order a left-handed stability that has been missing in high-pressure scenarios over the last year.
“I feel Tilak Varma will get a place in the Indian team’s playing XI as soon as he gets fit because of how he has performed, the way he has batted for India in different, different positions in the T20 format for the last one to one-and-a-half years. Along with that, he will obviously play the warm-up game.” Parthiv concluded.
Parthiv Patel’s India playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
