Shastri picks favourites for the T20 World Cup 2026
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the defending champions to achieve a historic feat at the upcoming marquee tournament.
As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 nears, former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes defending champions India can become the first team to win back-to-back titles.
India have not lost any bilateral series or tournament since their title win in 2024, boasting an impressive match win-loss record of 32-5. Ranked No.1 in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, India field an enviable squad for the tournament, including the No.1 Men’s T20I batter Abhishek Sharma as well as No.1 T20I bowler Varun Chakaravarthy.
“I think the defending champions start as clear favourites,” Shastri said. “Man to man, current form, match fitness, the amount of cricket they have played in recent times, makes them clear favourites. And especially when you look at that top order and the kind of form they're in.”
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Shastri believes the Indian selectors have managed just the right mix of youth and experience to take them to another World Cup triumph.
“There's less baggage on a lot of players. They're playing their first World Cup and it's an opportunity for them to express themselves,” Shastri said.
“And from the team that played the previous World Cup and won it in the West Indies, you've got tons of experience and brilliance.
“There's Jasprit Bumrah, there's Hardik Pandya, who I think is in terrific form at the moment and the ability for him to contribute with bat and ball. Shivam Dube has come along nicely.
“India will be hoping for Tilak Varma to be fit because he is a terrific player. And again, being a left-hander, the top of the order will make a difference.
“I think spin will play an integral part. And India has got enough ammunition in that spin department. There's Chakaravarthy, there's Axar Patel, there's Kuldeep Yadav. When you look at variety, players at the right positions and balance, India can defend this title.”
The defending champions’ run up to the T20 World Cup has been near-flawless. They defeated 2024 World Cup finalists South Africa 3-1 in a five-match T20I series in December, and continued their hot streak heading into the New Year, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead over New Zealand in the ongoing five-match series.
While India has assembled its A-team, the former India coach has urged the team to be cautious and ready for the pressure of a home World Cup.
“When you're defending your title and when you're playing at home, there is pressure and it comes from nowhere,” he noted.
“You have a bad 15 minutes, a bad 10 minutes in a T20 game, it can decide the outcome of the game. And often, you lose those 10 minutes or 15 minutes because of pressure.
“So, it's how India handles that pressure, the way they start the tournament. If they start well, even if there is a hiccup on the way, they have got depth in batting to pull them out of it.”
India begin their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 against the USA. They have been drawn in Group A along with the USA, Pakistan, the Netherlands and Namibia.