Former Australia batter Ricky Ponting has labelled India as the favourites for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan in the latest edition of The ICC Review, Ponting said:
“India probably start as the clear favourites, I think, in this event due to the conditions, the talent and the group of players that they have put together. They’ll be hard to beat, but I really do think we will see Australia there come semi-final time.”
India won the last edition of the T20 World Cup in 2024 under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Since then, they have been in red-hot form, having won eight bilateral series back-to-back, losing just six matches out of the 32 played. In 2025, the ‘Men in Blue’ emerged as champions of the Asia Cup 2025 (played in the T20 format) after defeating Pakistan in the final.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team is a well-rounded squad. Abhishek Sharma is a fearsome prospect for any opposition, with a strike rate of 193.46 in 2025. Captain Suryakumar Yadav roared back into form in the recent T20I series against New Zealand, finishing as the highest run-scorer in the five-match series.
Ishan Kishan was the highest scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and he justified his comeback to the national team with two important knocks against New Zealand, including a century.
Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are two invaluable assets for India, while Shivam Dube is known for his big-hitting abilities.
Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. The spin department comprises Varun Chakaravarthy, the leading bowler in the ICC T20 bowlers’ rankings, and Kuldeep Yadav, who took 21 wickets in 10 matches in 2025.
Also read- T20 World Cup 2026: “He can be Player of the Tournament” – Ponting backs Abhishek Sharma
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