India's Squad for Samarkand Takes Shape

India has named its men's team for the 46th Chess Olympiad, with reigning World Champion D Gukesh and world No. 4 R Praggnanandhaa headlining the squad. They will be joined by Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi, with GM Srinath Narayanan continuing as captain of the side that delivered India's historic gold at the previous edition in Budapest. The Olympiad will be held at the Silk Road Samarkand complex in Uzbekistan from September 15 to 27, 2026.

A Squad Built on Recent Glory

The nucleus of the team remains largely unchanged from the Budapest-winning combination, reflecting the selectors' faith in continuity after India's maiden Olympiad gold in the open section in 2024. Nihal Sarin's inclusion adds further depth to a squad already considered one of the strongest in the world on paper, with several of its members among the world's top-ranked players.

A Testing Build-Up for the World Champion

The announcement comes at a difficult moment for Gukesh individually. He endured a rough outing at the Chennai Grand Masters, finishing last in the standings with just two points from seven rounds and suffering three defeats without a single win. The dip in form has fuelled questions over his readiness to defend his World Championship title against challenger Javokhir Sindarov later this year. Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who was present in Chennai, has expressed confidence that Gukesh can turn things around, a view echoed by captain Srinath Narayanan.

Team Spirit as a Cushion

Nihal Sarin, speaking on the sidelines of the Chennai Grand Masters, pointed to the camaraderie within the squad as one of its biggest strengths, suggesting the collective team environment at the Olympiad could help lift Gukesh out of his recent slump. With preparations for the Olympiad set to intensify over the coming weeks, the team will have some time to fine-tune its combinations before the event begins in September.

Strong Show Expected from the Women's Section Too

India's challenge in Samarkand will not be limited to the open section. The women's team is expected to be similarly formidable, built around GM Divya Deshmukh, who has risen to a career-best rating after her exploits in the Women's World Cup and Women's Candidates, along with IM Vantika Agrawal. A key selection question remains the availability of GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, winner of the 2026 Women's Candidates, whose participation could hinge on the scheduling of her Women's World Championship match against China's Ju Wenjun.

Defending a Historic Double

India will head into Samarkand as defending champions in both the open and women's sections, having become only the third nation after the Soviet Union and China to sweep both gold medals at a single Olympiad, achieved in Budapest in 2024. That feat has raised expectations further for the Samarkand edition, even as the build-up has been complicated by the world champion's dip in form.