Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu to lead India's Thomas and Uber Cup campaigns in May

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Tuesday announced a balanced blend of experience and emerging talent for the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, set to be held in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. The squads feature a strong core of established stars alongside a promising group of youngsters who have impressed on the international circuit in recent months.

Leading India's men's team are Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy, with the experienced trio forming the backbone of the singles lineup. The squad also includes Kiran George, who adds depth, while young shuttler Ayush Shetty has earned his maiden call-up following a string of consistent performances at the senior level.

Lakshya will be high on confidence after having made it to the final of the All England Open in March.

In doubles, India will once again rely on the proven pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have been central to the team's success in recent years. The duo, along with Sen, Srikanth and Prannoy, were part of the historic Indian team that clinched the Thomas Cup title in 2022 – a landmark achievement in the country's badminton history.

The men's squad also sees the return of MR Arjun, who has fought his way back from injury with steady results, bolstering the doubles department alongside Hariharan Amsakarunan. Dhruv Kapila, known for his versatility across doubles formats, further strengthens the lineup.

India have been drawn alongside China, Canada and Australia in Group A in Thomas Cup. The women's team will face China, Denmark and Ukraine in Group A of Uber Cup.

In the women's competition, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will spearhead India's campaign, supported by rising star Unnati Hooda. The team will aim to improve on its previous semifinal finishes and mount a stronger title challenge this year.

Sindhu will return to action



for the first time since missing the All England Open and Swiss Open in March after being stranded in Dubai during the West Asia conflict.

The women's squad features a host of in-form youngsters, including Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag and Isharani Baruah. Devika's inclusion follows her impressive title-winning run at the Thailand Masters earlier this season, while Isharani earned her place after reaching the semifinals at the Orleans Masters. Tanvi, one of India's brightest prospects, continues to build her reputation on the international stage, while Hooda's rapid rise has already yielded three senior titles.

India's doubles hopes in the women's section will rest largely on the established pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly. The lineup also includes Tanisha Crasto, who brings valuable experience across doubles formats. Kavipriya Selvam is set to make her debut at the tournament and will partner Simran Singhi, adding fresh depth to the squad.

The selections were based primarily on BWF rankings as of March 10 (Week 11), with the top five singles players and top two doubles pairs securing automatic qualification. Additional selections were made with team combinations and tactical flexibility in mind.

"We have a good mix of youth and experience in both teams. The senior players bring stability, and the youngsters are in great form. They've shown they can deliver at this level, which gives us confidence going into the tournament," BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said.

INDIA TEAM FOR THOMAS CUP

Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Kiran George, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun, Dhruv Kapila

INDIA TEAM FOR UBER CUP

PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto