Melbourne, 31 January (H.S.): Australia unveiled its 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka on Saturday, reappointing Mitchell Marsh as captain while sidelining Test skipper Pat Cummins due to a lingering back injury, supplanting him with left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis.

Selectors' chair Tony Dodemaide elucidated: Pat requires further convalescence for his back; Ben emerges as a primed surrogate, proffering left-arm pace, superlative fielding, and lower-order cameos. His swing prowess, velocity, and adroit variations shall prove efficacious in subcontinental climes.

A seismic inclusion materialized via ex-Test opener Matthew Renshaw—fresh from T20I debut versus Pakistan this week—displacing Matt Short. Big Bash centurion Steve Smith (41-ball ton for Sydney Sixers) found omission. Dodemaide rationalized Renshaw: Matt has excelled across formats for Australia, Queensland Bulls, Brisbane Heat in white-ball roles. Spin-conducive Sri Lankan openers cement top order; Renshaw fortifies middle with left-handed diversity.

Australia's T20 World Cup 2026 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.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar