Good news for Rajasthan Royals, star player returns for England in T20 World Cup 2026, captain will be…, not Ben Stokes
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. In what will be a huge boost for the T20 World Cup 2022 winners England, Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer has been named for the tournament which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka and will begin on February 7.
Archer was the pick of the England bowlers in the ongoing Ashes 2025 series before being ruled out due to side strain after the third Test in Adelaide Oval earlier this month. He has been included in the provisional T20 World Cup squad but will miss the tour of Sri Lanka as he continues his rehabilitation with the England medical team following the left side strain sustained during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide Oval. Durham seamer Brydon Carse is included in the squads touring Sri Lanka in place of Archer.
Mumbai Indians and Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks returns to both squads, having missed the New Zealand white-ball tour in October. England will be led by Harry Brook in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, who will replace Jos Buttler as captain from the previous edition in 2024.
Wicketkeeper Buttler had led England to their second T20 World Cup title in Australia back in 2022 before stepping down from captaincy duties.
The 30-year-old Archer was bought for Rs 12.5 crore by RR at the IPL 2025 mega auction and has been retained for the same price before IPL 2026 season next year. Archer has claimed 44 wickets in T20I cricket so far and 225 wickets in 182 games in his T20 career.
He had claimed 11 wickets in 12 matches for RR in IPL 2025 season even as the Royals finished in 9th place in the season. England have been clubbed in Group C with Nepal, West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy.
They will begin their campaign against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 8, their next game will be at the same venue against West Indies on February 11, they will then take on Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens on February 14 and their final game will be at the same venue against Italy on February 16.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 winner Phil Salt will be expected to open the batting with Ben Duckett in the T20 World Cup 2026. Apart from Jacks, the England team will feature other top all-rounders like Sam Curran, who has been traded from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026 season along with Ravindra Jadeja in exchange for Sanju Samson.
We have named our provisional squad for the Men’s ICC @T20WorldCup!
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 30, 2025
England squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood