Jitesh Sharma’s sudden omission from India’s 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has emerged as one of the most talked-about selection calls in recent times. The Baroda wicketkeeper-batter had been a regular feature in India’s T20I plans during the five-match series against South Africa and was widely seen as the frontrunner to take up the gloves at the global event. Yet, when the final squad was announced, Jitesh was nowhere to be found.
In an honest chat with CricTracker, Jitesh revealed that the news of his exclusion came as a shock. He said neither the selectors nor the team management had communicated with him before the squad was unveiled. Still, the 31-year-old admitted that once chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the rationale behind the choices at the press conference, he came to terms with the decision.
“I wasn’t aware of my omission until the squad was announced,” Jitesh Sharma said. “After that, I agreed with the explanation given by the selectors in the press conference; it was a valid reason. Later, I had discussions with the coaches and selectors, and I felt their reasoning was fair. I completely understood what they wanted to explain to me, and I agreed with it.”
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Despite accepting the logic behind the call, Jitesh did not hide how emotionally draining the moment was. Missing out on a home T20 World Cup after putting in years of hard work is not easy for any cricketer, especially one who had been so closely involved in the build-up.
“It was heartbreaking, as I had worked very hard to play in the ICC T20 World Cup. But that’s destiny, I can’t deny it. At that moment, I was numb and couldn’t process anything,” he admitted. “Spending time with my family and talking to Dinesh Karthik helped me move forward.”
In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Jitesh Sharma breaks his silence on missing out on India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad.#JiteshSharma pic.twitter.com/plKXvdIRqm
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 13, 2026
Karthik, who has been a mentor to Jitesh during their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, played a key role in helping him regain perspective and focus on what lies ahead rather than what was lost.
For the 2026 T20 World Cup, India have opted for a different wicketkeeping combination. Sanju Samson has been named the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter and is set to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Ishan Kishan has also made a comeback, giving the Suryakumar Yadav-led side another explosive option behind the stumps.
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With India defending their title on home soil, the selectors have gone for a balanced squad that blends power, flexibility, and experience. While Jitesh Sharma’s absence is a tough pill to swallow, his composed response reflects a cricketer determined to stay ready for the next opportunity.
