Dinesh Karthik reveals India’s two major concerns ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Former Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik was surprised to see the axing of Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma from the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka early next year.

Speaking on his Instagram handle, DK asserted that the defending champions will enter the marquee event with a strong squad on paper. Furthermore, he also reckoned that India has the best opener, pacer, spinner and all-rounder in the world, adding that India will walk into the World Cup with a strong XI.

“The big news of the day: India World Cup T20 squad is announced and guess what? Shubman Gill, the current vice captain of the T20 team, incumbent opener has been dropped. Not just from the XI but from the squad. They wanted to bring in an extra opener and they brought in Ishan Kishan and dropped Jitesh Sharma as well. And instead of Jitesh Sharma, it's gonna be Rinku Singh. That is huge news. Dropping Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma. I didn't see it coming. Just tells you there's a little bit of clarity lacking. They have backed Shubman Gill for so long and come the day they pick the squad, they have let him go,” Karthik said on Instagram.

“India looks a strong squad on paper no matter what names you add there, this team is a solid team. Across every skillset, they have the best in the world: best opener: Abhishek Sharma, best spinner: Varun Chakaravarthy, best allrounder in the world: Hardik Pandya, the best fast bowler ever maybe: Jasprit Bumrah. So with those 4 in the squad, you are going to have a strong XI walking into that World Cup,” he added.

Additionally, Karthik also emphasised India’s two vulnerabilities, heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. While the Indian team will miss the veteran duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Karthik also felt that Suryakumar Yadav’s form would be another major concern.

“A couple of areas of vulnerabilities that India would have: For the first time ever in a T20 World Cup, they will have no experience of the greatest two that's probably ever played in Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in a World Cup team. And the second point would be Suryakumar Yadav's form. But we all know how good he is. That vulnerable aspect will it change into a strength when he finds form? It definitely will,” he concluded.

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