Next India captain? Four players who may captain India in T20 World Cup 2026

Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20I cricket after leading India to a triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.

The 37-year-old confirmed his departure from the shortest version of international cricket after accomplishing a significant achievement of his life, which was to captain India in an ICC trophy victory.

"This was my last game as well. No better time to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup," Rohit said at the press conference after winning the final.

Another stalwart announced retirement just before Rohit. Virat Kohli also confirmed his departure from the T20 format on the podium as he was receiving the Player of the Match award for his scintillating batting display.

As India prepare for the next chapter, the question emerges on the leader who will carry the baton towards the next edition of T20 World Cup. Here are the four potential names who can be leading India out in the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is likely to be the next India captain in T20 format. The Indian all-rounder has led them in the past few series and is widely speculated to be appointed as India's next captain in T20Is. Pandya also showcased his worth in the World Cup and performed extremely well.

Jasprit Bumrah

The crown jewel of Indian cricket Jasprit Bumrah is also a potential candidate to become a captain. Bumrah is a man of few words but his innate ability with the ball can be a driving factor in his captaincy. The pacer is aggressive and a match-winner for India. Hence, Bumrah is definitely going to be in the reckoning.

Suryakumar Yadav

Another name is Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian batter has ben around for some time and is known for his calm and composed nature. If the selectors want someone collective and calm, they may turn to Suryakumar Yadav for captaincy. He has captained Mumbai Indians in a couple of matches.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant will be a name in contention. If BCCI thinks the southpaw as the captain for the coming project, Pant will have to show his authority both with the bat and behind the stumps. With the experience of IPL captaincy, Pant is someone who will be in the race.