Mumbai, Dec 20: India on Saturday named Axar Patel as vice-captain for the home T20 World Cup, announcing a 15-member squad led by Suryakumar Yadav and leaving out opener Shubman Gill.

The selection panel opted for continuity and recent form, bringing in Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh after their consistent performances in the format.

Addressing Gill’s absence, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the batter had struggled in recent outings. “He is short of runs right now, and he didn’t feature in the previous T20 World Cup either,” Agarkar said.

Axar’s elevation reflects his all-round contributions and reliability in pressure situations, selectors said, as India prepare for a high-stakes tournament on home soil.

With the squad finalized, the focus will now shift to preparations and workload management ahead of the World Cup, where India will aim to capitalize on familiar conditions and home support.