T20 World Cup: Take a look at performance of players chosen for T20 WC in Vijay Hazare Trophy
With the Indian squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup officially announced, attention has quickly shifted to one key question: how prepared are these players heading into a global tournament?
The recently concluded 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy offered an important checkpoint. While the tournament is a 50-over competition, it still provided valuable insights into form, confidence, and match sharpness. Some players stamped their authority, others struggled, and a few raised fresh concerns.
Why Did India’s Stars play Vijay Hazare?
This season, the BCCI made it mandatory for centrally contracted players to feature in at least two domestic matches. As a result, even senior stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to domestic cricket, a rare treat for fans who usually miss out due to expensive international match tickets.
Out of the 15 players selected for the T20 World Cup squad, 14 featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, making it a strong reference point for selection debates.
Suryakumar Yadav Falters, Tilak Verma Shines but Gets Injured
India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav had a brief and disappointing outing. Scores of 24 against Himachal Pradesh and 15 against Punjab showed he couldn’t quite find his rhythm.
On the other hand, Tilak Verma impressed with a classy 109 against Chandigarh and followed it up with a steady 34 against Bengal, underlining his value in the middle order. However, his momentum was halted by an injury that required surgery, putting a question mark over his availability for the World Cup.
Rinku Singh continues his Dream Run
If one player walked away with a glowing report card, it was Rinku Singh. The finisher delivered consistently with 67 vs Hyderabad, 106* vs Chandigarh, 63 vs Baroda, 37* vs Assam, 41 vs J&K, 57* vs Vidarbha and 37* vs Bengal. Rinku’s ability to close out games under pressure makes him a genuine trump card for India in the T20 World Cup.
Hardik Pandya’s comeback boost
Returning after a long injury layoff, Hardik Pandya looked back to his destructive best. A match-winning 133 and one wicket against Vidarbha, followed by 75 runs and three wickets against Chandigarh, showed why he’s so vital to India’s balance.
Abhishek, Dube and Axar Delivered
Abhishek Sharma had a mixed campaign but showed his value with both bat and ball, despite a tough outing against Mumbai. Shivam Dube surprised many with the ball, taking 4/68 against Himachal and two more wickets against Punjab, though his batting remains an area to watch. Axar Patel justified his selection with 130 runs and two wickets against Andhra, and a solid 73 vs Odisha.
Washington Sundar underwhelms
Unlike others, Washington Sundar struggled to make an impact with either bat or ball. Given Indian conditions, his form will be closely monitored going forward.
Samson and Ishan Back in the Frame
Sanju Samson reminded everyone of his class with a fluent 101 against Jharkhand, although inconsistency remains an issue. Ishan Kishan brought his trademark aggression, smashing 125 against Karnataka, followed by modest scores against Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. His experience and fearless approach could be invaluable in crunch games.
Bowlers with variety and firepower
India’s bowling unit looks well-rounded. Varun Chakravarthy picked up four wickets vs Rajasthan and two vs Tripura. Kuldeep Yadav grabbed five wickets across matches against J&K and Vidarbha. Arshdeep Singh stayed lethal, taking five vs Sikkim and two vs Goa and Harshit Rana impressed with four wickets against Services.
Why didn’t Jasprit Bumrah play?
Jasprit Bumrah was rested on medical advice due to workload management and his history of back injuries. The BCCI and Gujarat Cricket Association granted him a special exemption to ensure he stays fully fit for the World Cup, a sensible call given his importance.
Domestic Top Performers miss out
One of the biggest talking points? None of the top 10 run-scorers or wicket-takers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy made the World Cup squad.
This underlines the selectors’ clear thinking: T20 impact matters more than 50-over numbers. Strike rate, death-overs bowling, versatility, and game awareness carried more weight than sheer volume of runs or wickets.
The 2026 T20 World Cup, starting February 7, will see India defend their title after lifting the trophy in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. While not everyone sparkled in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the squad looks balanced, experienced, and battle-ready.