Fast bowler Mayank Yadav has been handed a spot in the India A team for the warm-up games before the T20 World Cup 2026. This is a major step in his comeback trail.
Mayank Yadav rose to fame for his raw pace during the IPL 2024 season, but he has been sidelined for the past year and a half due to a stress fracture. His last competitive game was when he played for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025.
Tilak Varma Cleared for Return After Injury
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Middle-order batsman Tilak Varma has also been included in the list after he received clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. The left-handed batsman has successfully overcome a groin injury that had kept him out of the T20 series against New Zealand. As per the BCCI, Tilak Varma will play in one of the two warm-up matches before joining the Indian senior team.
“Tilak Varma will feature in one warm-up match before joining the senior team,” the BCCI confirmed via social media.
India A Warm-Up Match Schedule
As a part of the preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026, India A will be playing two important warm-up matches:
India A vs USA – February 2
Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
India A vs Namibia – February 6
Venue: Centre of Excellence (CoE), Bengaluru
These matches will be important preparation games before the actual tournament.
Ayush Badoni to Lead India A Squad
Ayush Badoni, who is an all-rounder, has been named as the captain of the 15-member India A team. The team consists of a mix of young and experienced players, including some new faces like Riyan Parag, Naman Dhir, Vipraj Nigam, and some experienced players like Ravi Bishnoi and Khaleel Ahmed.
India A Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-Up Matches
Ayush Badoni (Captain)
Naman Dhir
Ashutosh Sharma
Priyansh Arya
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N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper)
Tilak Varma
Riyan Parag
Manav Suthar
Ashok Sharma
Urvil Patel (Wicketkeeper)
Gurjapneet Singh
Vipraj Nigam
Ravi Bishnoi
Khaleel Ahmed
Mayank Yadav
India Set to Begin T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign
The defending champions, India, will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7, and these warm-up matches become all the more crucial for them to fine-tune their combinations and check the fitness levels of their players.
Key Highlights
Mayank Yadav gets India A call-up after impressive performances in the IPL
Tilak Varma makes a comeback from injury, to feature in one warm-up match
India A to play USA and Namibia before T20 World Cup 2026
Ayush Badoni named captain of the 15-man squad
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