Australia make last minute changes; confirm T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Australia lock T20 World Cup squad [Source: X.com]

On Saturday, Australia officially announced their final 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.

The announcement marked the end of weeks of speculation, as selectors made a few last-minute changes before locking in the squad.

Mitchell Marsh set to captain Australia in T20 World Cup

Notably, Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the Australian side as captain. His leadership has been trusted once again, especially after his recent performances in limited-overs cricket. 

At the same time, the squad announcement came with a major surprise, as fast bowler Pat Cummins was left out of the final team. This decision has had a strong impact, given Cummins’ experience and importance in big tournaments.

It is important to mention that Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a long-standing back injury. Although he was part of the provisional squad earlier, his recovery has taken longer than expected. As a result, Cricket Australia decided that Cummins needs more time to return to full fitness. 

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Cummins is expected to be fit in time for the Indian Premier League (IPL) later in the year.

In his place, left-arm fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis has been added to the final squad. Notably, Dwarshuis brings variety to the bowling attack and was already close to selection during the earlier squad announcement.

Matthew Short dropped from Australia’s T20 World Cup squad

In addition, another notable change involved top-order batter Matthew Short. He has been dropped from the squad after struggling with form in recent matches. 

To strengthen the batting lineup, selectors opted for Matt Renshaw, who offers a left-handed option and has shown strong performances against spin bowling. It is worth mentioning that Renshaw recently made his T20I debut in Pakistan and impressed selectors with his calm approach and consistency.

Meanwhile, there was also disappointment for Steve Smith, who did not find a place in the final squad. The team management appeared focused on balance and current form while finalising the group for conditions expected in India and Sri Lanka, where spin bowling often plays a major role.

Josh Hazlewood, Tim David pass fitness tests

On a positive note, several players have been declared fully fit after recent injury concerns. Josh Hazlewood has recovered from his hamstring and Achilles issues and is ready to play. 

Similarly, Tim David and Nathan Ellis have both passed fitness tests after missing parts of the Big Bash League and recent international tours. 

Australia has been placed in Group B for the 2026 T20 World Cup. They will play alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, as well as Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman. Their tournament will begin on February 11, when they face Ireland at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Australia’s final T20 World Cup squad

Mitchell Marsh (C), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa