What do teams need to focus on to succeed in ICC T20 World Cup 2026?

[Bhaijaan]

Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Name of the game is to load the team with hitters and spinners, and have a few good variation pacers.

Hopefully West Indies qualify; they are phenomenal in this part of the world.

Pakistan needs to rebuild.
Aussies need more spin options

 

[RyanRyan10]

West Indies has already qualified. It's a 20 team tournament. Update yourself. Din bhar comedy karte rehte hain, 1 baar Google search kar liya karein.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Pakistan will be playing its top players against random B/C teams in T20s to prep for the world cup as usual.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Co-hosted by Bharat and Sri Lanka.

Name of the game is to load the team with hitters and spinners, and have a few good variation pacers.

Hopefully West Indies qualifies, they are phenomenal in this part of the world.

Pakistan need to rebuild.
Aussies need more spin options

Australia has little chance i feel.
again it will be down to NZ, SA and India. maybe WI or SL can spring a surprise if their revival continues.

 

[Devadwal]

India and Lanka already qualified directly as co-hosts.

They will be joined by the top eight teams from the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup and the best three other teams from the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings.

The remaining eight teams will be decided by regional qualifiers, with two teams from Africa and Europe, three teams from the combined Asia and East Asia-Pacific region, and one team from the Americas region.

 

[Bhaijaan]

West Indies has already qualified. It's a 20 team tournament. Update yourself. Din bhar comedy karte rehte hain, 1 baar Google search kar liya karein.

Why so gussa sweety

 

[Bhaijaan]

Australia has little chance i feel.
again it will be down to NZ, SA and India. maybe WI or SL can spring a surprise if their revival continues.

With Rachin Ravindra in the team, NZ is making semi finals of all tournaments for the next 10 years.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

With Rachin Ravindra in the team, NZ is making semi finals of all tournaments for the next 10 years.

Uska aadhaar card banwaao and ghar vapsi karo bache ki

 

[AMSS]

When in 2026 - before or after IPL?

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

When in 2026 - before or after IPL?

before the IPL.. thank God!!

 

[Devadwal]

When in 2026 - before or after IPL?

10th February is probably the starting date

 

[Vikram1989]

Afg may knock few with their spin. As it's t20 and no time to recuperate, sena Opposition may find it tough on spin pitches. Bcci will make sure of it.

Pak spin bowling is looking good after long time but their fast bowling going down the hill quickly. Batting remains to be Achilles heal .

 

[Devadwal]

Afg may knock few with their spin. As it's t20 and no time to recuperate, sena Opposition may find it tough on spin pitches. Bcci will make sure of it.

Pak spin bowling is looking good after long time but their fast bowling going down the hill quickly. Batting remains to be Achilles heal .

T20 is Afghanistan best format so i wouldn't be surprised if they Makes to Semifinal yet again

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan just needs to find a bunch of players now and back them till the next world cup. The current Rizbar strategy has failed in so many tournaments that if the new guys fail in one it won't be the end of the world.

Fast bowlers aren't needed unless they are T20 specialists and we desperately need an all rounder - hopefully Shadab Khan fill that gap.

If we invest in Khushdil, hope Shadab comes good again and find another spinner we can build a bowling unit around this.

Batting is something else. We are so far behind that it is difficult to even suggest players. I hope a few put up their hands in this PSL.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistan fans,

Less than 1 year to go for the next ICC tournament. You will most likely play your matches in Sri Lanka

What should be your 15 man squad. Do you have it in your mind already or would you like to wait and see how the team performs in the next 6 months or something m.

Or you have some positions locked in your mind?

Please share your thoughts

 

[jnaveen1980]

Depth is the key in T20 as much as it is in ODI. Ofcourse match winning bowlers are essential

 

[Shehmir]

When in 2026 - before or after IPL?

In june-26

 

[Shehmir]

In june-26

Sorry it will be played between feb to mar window

 

[saimayubera]

In june-26

naah. cant play in ind that time.

will be feb-mar.

 

[Shehmir]

Australia has little chance i feel.
again it will be down to NZ, SA and India. maybe WI or SL can spring a surprise if their revival continues.

One cannot rule out Australia in any ICC event

 

[deltexas]

Hope they pit US and pak in the same group. Wanna see a revenge grudge match for Pak amd hopefully US can beat Pak again.

 

[deltexas]

One cannot rule out Australia in any ICC event

Sure.. but t20 is their weakest format relatively speaking and the gap reduces between teams in t20s. Afg has a shot as well but just cant see Pak winning.

 

[Mohraheem]

Tuktuk won’t win you matches! Don’t take any Advice from Misbah or his friends. Keep Misbah and his friends away from Pakistan

 

[AMSS]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

 

[saimayubera]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

Naah, batting till 8 as that gives license for the top order to go bang bang.

Jaiswal might not play and you might have Rinku in the bottom instead. Also no Kuldeep but Arshdeep.

Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Rinku
Hardik
Axar
Arshdeep
Bumrah
Varun C

 

[giri26]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

The problem for us is that we have too many players to choose from which is a problem in T20Is. We have Arshdeep, Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana who deserve to be in the playing XI. Arshdeep has been our best pacer in T20I format. There is also Ravi Bishnoi who has done well in T20Is as well. We have Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube who haven't done anything wrong to miss out. So problems a plenty for the Indian team for the T20 WC.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Another important factor is six hitting skills.

 

[Vikram1989]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

Don't think sky will prefer 5.already he is having poor form at 4.Kuldeep is out of t20s and only preferred for longer formats.Still rinku, nitish are there in contention

Probable 15

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Pandya
Sky
Tilak
Nitish
Axar
Washi
Bishnoi
Varun
Bumrah
Rinku/Parag
Arshdeep
Mayank/Rana

 

[giri26]

Another important factor is six hitting skills.

Different skills for India & Sri Lanka. In India the pitches are better with short boundaries so SR's and big hitting is crucial. In Sri Lanka the pitches are little tricky and scores of 160-180 will be norm, so you need players who could bat differently against the spinners etc. It will be an interesting tournament. Actually Pakistan will benefit playing in Sri Lanka instead of India. In India I feel they will be blown away. In SL with the scores not being too high they might have a chance.

 

[saimayubera]

Don't think sky will prefer 5.already he is having poor form at 4.Kuldeep is out of t20s and only preferred for longer formats.Still rinku, nitish are there in contention

Probable 15

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Pandya
Sky
Tilak
Nitish
Axar
Washi
Bishnoi
Varun
Bumrah
Rinku/Parag
Arshdeep
Mayank/Rana

Kuldeep is in T20 contention.

 

[Vikram1989]

Kuldeep is in T20 contention.

As per cricinfo earlier reports, gambhir wants multi skilled players till 8. one attacking spinner (Kuldeep/varun) at 9 , 2 pacers for remaining slots.axar/washi,/Bishnoi for 7,8 positions .Kuldeep was not considered begore his injury as per them.

 

[Vikram1989]

As per cricinfo earlier reports, gambhir wants multi skilled players till 8. one attacking spinner (Kuldeep/varun) at 9 , 2 pacers for remaining slots.axar/washi,/Bishnoi for 7,8 positions .Kuldeep was not considered begore his injury as per them.

kuldeep was not there for sri lanka and bng t20s

 

[saimayubera]

As per cricinfo earlier reports, gambhir wants multi skilled players till 8. one attacking spinner (Kuldeep/varun) at 9 , 2 pacers for remaining slots.axar/washi,/Bishnoi for 7,8 positions .Kuldeep was not considered begore his injury as per them.

kuldeep played in the 24 wc. did not play in the bilaterals cause of tests.

bishnoi is the varun/kuldeep backup

 

[AMSS]

Jaiswal is a serious six hitter who can also be consistent unlike Abhishek or Samson and that ought to be a factor. Basically as attacking as any in the lineup but also comes with a test pedigree.

I daresay it's SKY whose form should be concerning. Best not to turn him into Rohit/Kohli equivalent in T20 setup and treated as irreplaceable.

Also, after tasting success with 4 spinner strategy, I can see they'd persist with it during WT20 as well. Bumrah + Reddy/Hardik being the two quicks.

 

[saimayubera]

Jaiswal is a serious six hitter who can also be consistent unlike Abhishek or Samson and that ought to be a factor. Basically as attacking as any in the lineup but also comes with a test pedigree.

I daresay it's SKY whose form should be concerning. Best not to turn him into Rohit/Kohli equivalent in T20 setup and treated as irreplaceable.

Also, after tasting success with 4 spinner strategy, I can see they'd persist with it during WT20 as well. Bumrah + Reddy/Hardik being the two quicks.

Naah wont be Dubai like pitches.

three spinners + three pacers

bumrah + hardik + arshdeep

t20 consistency is not that imp but yeah jaiswal should replace sky who will be out soon anyway.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan needs a solid playing 11 actually. This team is zero atm and they have to start from scratch now. I don't see them winning anything though.

 

[AMSS]

Naah wont be Dubai like pitches.

three spinners + three pacers

bumrah + hardik + arshdeep

t20 consistency is not that imp but yeah jaiswal should replace sky who will be out soon anyway.

Won't be like Dubai but on balance they'd still favor spin. Many IPL teams follow this format of home spin dominance already. Now the Indian TM has seen the value Varun brings to the table and both Axar and Kuldeep are indispensable in their own ways. India could very well go with both Reddy and Hardik in addition to Bumrah and front up Varun C, Kuldeep, Axar together with Abhishek and Parag as AR spinners. India's batting tactics in T20 is partly based on batting depth.

In Indian conditions, the XI below will not be improved by adding Arshdeep in place of one of the spinners.

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY/Reddy
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

Kuldeep might be swapped out for a quick if needed.

That batting depth until #8 is crucial. I wouldn't compromise on that.

 

[AMSS]

Kuldeep might be swapped out for a quick if needed.

That batting depth until #8 is crucial. I wouldn't compromise on that.

Kuldeep does tend to be on the chopping block quite often and it makes no sense. He's just an incredible wicket taking threat in the middle overs and also at the death. Again and again I see batsmen either misreading or losing shape trying to hit him. Irreplaceable.

If India want three quicks then maybe play both Pandya and Reddy but the gulf in quality between Arshdeep and Reddy/Pandya is massive, no arguments. Arshdeep's main USP is wicket taking ability in PP but on Indian pitches I feel Axar can pair up with Bumrah/Hardik nicely.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Let’s get that #8 trophy

Wining at home would be special.

We missed out in 2006, 2016 and 2023.

Let’s take revenge

 

[saimayubera]

India will be defending both their titles at home.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Kuldeep does tend to be on the chopping block quite often and it makes no sense. He's just an incredible wicket taking threat in the middle overs and also at the death. Again and again I see batsmen either misreading or losing shape trying to hit him. Irreplaceable.

If India want three quicks then maybe play both Pandya and Reddy but the gulf in quality between Arshdeep and Reddy/Pandya is massive, no arguments. Arshdeep's main USP is wicket taking ability in PP but on Indian pitches I feel Axar can pair up with Bumrah/Hardik nicely.

It's a problem of plenty for India in T20 cricket. Even someone like Dube performed against England recently and he probably won't make it.

We can only pick 3 specialist bowlers. I suppose it's about picking and choosing.

I'd have Arshdeep at venues where the ball swings under lights like Wankhede and maybe pick Kuldeep ahead of him on slower pitches aiding turn .

 

[Usman Chadda]

Pakistan needs a solid playing 11 actually. This team is zero atm and they have to start from scratch now. I don't see them winning anything though.

We need to pick a pool of players who want to play cricket the right way, and stick with them.

Anyone who stat-pads will be kicked out immediately.

Our team is unwatchable at the moment, the focus should be on reversing that trend rather than have delusional hopes of being world beaters.

 

[BouncerGuy]

We need to pick a pool of players who want to play cricket the right way, and stick with them.

Anyone who stat-pads will be kicked out immediately.

Our team is unwatchable at the moment, the focus should be on reversing that trend rather than have delusional hopes of being world beaters.

Yep. We are at Uganda level atm.. Minnows... We really need to find some solid players and the current squad in NZ can provide that opening... FINGERS CROSSED

 

[Usman Chadda]

Yep. We are at Uganda level atm.. Minnows... We really need to find some solid players and the current squad in NZ can provide that opening... FINGERS CROSSED

I’m just done with the phattu mentality that is on display every time we bat.

Will be happy getting bowled out for well below par totals than this torture of dragging the innings along at 2 RPO and ending up with a below par total anyway.

You can be average yet still entertain. Atleast entertain your own fans

 

[kron]

With Rachin Ravindra in the team, NZ is making semi finals of all tournaments for the next 10 years.

Cochin raghavendra is overrated vs pace and bounce but good vs spin on non turning wickets

 

[Shehmir]

India will be defending both their titles at home.

T20 WC Final will be played in Srilanka

 

[saimayubera]

T20 WC Final will be played in Srilanka

No.

 

[Devadwal]

T20 WC Final will be played in Narendera Modi stadium at Ahmedabad

Fixed

 

[AMSS]

That would make for a fairytale script for pakistan. Lifting the trophy in India looking at Modi in the eyes!

This dream is going to grip the nation of pakistan as the tournament gets closer.

 

[saimayubera]

That would make for a fairytale script for pakistan. Lifting the trophy in India looking at Modi in the eyes!

This dream is going to grip the nation of pakistan as the tournament gets closer.

They had the same dream in 2023 lol.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan team has taken a nosedive and things are not gonna get fixed anytime soon....

 

[AMSS]

They had the same dream in 2023 lol.

And? It's not like it's some illegitimate dream? Didn't Indian team dream of a hometown victory in 2023? What happened? Humiliated before home crowd and went home crying.

Maybe Pakistani hopes and dreams will come true in 2026 and if it does, it'll be epic for them.

 

[saimayubera]

And? It's not like it's some illegitimate dream? Didn't Indian team dream of a hometown victory in 2023? What happened? Humiliated before home crowd and went home crying.

Maybe Pakistani hopes and dreams will come true in 2026 and if it does, it'll be epic for them.

Naah, humiliation is

1. Having to go to another country to play your home tournament against rivals only to get beaten by them and get kicked out of the tournament in 4 days

2. Having said rivals go to the final and ensure no final has taken place in your country in 35+ years

3. Said rivals winning taking away the only trophy you were the holders of while ensuring no one from your board was present in the ceremony

The only thing that was left of Pakistan in the end was their name on the podium.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistan team must do some military camps to mentally prepare themselves for the big tournament

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sunrisers today 286/6

Got to be the template for the initial matches in World T20

 

[Nephrologist]

Sunrisers today 286/6

Got to be the template for the initial matches in World T20

Not gonna be the same in SL matches. I hope it wont be the same for India leg too... 280 every match would be over kill unless you are that good a batting unit, which Indian team is, as they showed in SA as well.

 

[rhony]

Jaiswal
Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Parag
Hardik
Axar
Kuldeep
Bumrah
Varun C

Possible India XI? Maybe they'd swap one batter for a quick.

Only one of Kuldeep/ Varun will play. Arshdeep is a gun T20 bowler. Swings the ball and is a leftie option. I'd be extremely shocked if this team doesn't win the world cup at home. Fearless and playing at home. Thry can handle pressure too

 

[Nephrologist]

Only one of Kuldeep/ Varun will play. Arshdeep is a gun T20 bowler. Swings the ball and is a leftie option. I'd be extremely shocked if this team doesn't win the world cup at home. Fearless and playing at home. Thry can handle pressure too

India Will continue their successfull template of packing the side with spin bowling ARs. Luckily guys like Abhishek can bowl so we can have Bumrah + Arshdeep + Axar + Varun and Pandya / ABhishek to finish of 5th over quota

 

[Nephrologist]

India Will continue their successfull template of packing the side with spin bowling ARs. Luckily guys like Abhishek can bowl so we can have Bumrah + Arshdeep + Axar + Varun and Pandya / ABhishek to finish of 5th over quota

Also Nitish will replace Rinku so we have another option

 

[rhony]

That would make for a fairytale script for pakistan. Lifting the trophy in India looking at Modi in the eyes!

This dream is going to grip the nation of pakistan as the tournament gets closer.

Good imagination but based on the CT agreement, Pak will play final in SL if they make the final. Modi won't be there.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan team must do some military camps to mentally prepare themselves for the big tournament

LMAO only team in the world whose decision makers think that sending professional athletes to a freaking army bootcamp is a bright idea.

 

[Bhaijaan]

LMAO only team in the world whose decision makers think that sending professional athletes to a freaking army bootcamp is a bright idea.

We also did military boot camps under Greg Chappel.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

We also did military boot camps under Greg Chappel.

Yeah that checks out. Greg Chappell is an idiot.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Yeah that checks out. Greg Chappell is an idiot.

The learn our team got was priceless

 

[ads101]

We need a great spinner. We’re never realistically going to have an amazing batting team any time soon. But with a very good spinner we get teams out for manageable totals.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Saim Ayub
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Haris
Fakhar Zaman
Salman Agha (c)
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
shdb khn
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Wasim

Saim and Agha bowl 2 overs each, with 1 over in the PP.

Bat till 7, tail starts at shdb khn.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Saim Ayub
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Haris
Fakhar Zaman
Salman Agha (c)
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
shdb khn
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Wasim

Saim and Agha bowl 2 overs each, with 1 over in the PP.

Bat till 7, tail starts at shdb khn.

Shadab narrows the tail at #8. He provides much needed balance with his valuable contribution with the bat and ball.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Shadab narrows the tail at #8. He provides much needed balance with his valuable contribution with the bat and ball.

He’s rubbish, but so are the other spinners.

 

[Nabeel23]

Saim Ayub
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Haris
Fakhar Zaman
Salman Agha (c)
Irfan Niazi
Abdul Samad
shdb khn
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Wasim

Saim and Agha bowl 2 overs each, with 1 over in the PP.

Bat till 7, tail starts at shdb khn.

You cannot have Shadab as the only main spinner in the team, this will be the same mistake made like in the 2023 World Cup.

You need another specialist wicket taking spinner. Agha and Saim are 6th and 7th bowling options, they cannot play as the 5th bowlers.

Shadab can only play as a spin bowling if he plays. Either drop a fast bowler for a specialist spinner or drop one batsman, put Shadab at 7 which will leave one space for a spinner.

 

[saimayubera]

Also Nitish will replace Rinku so we have another option

Nitish can replace Jadeja. Rinku can remain.

Abhishek
Samson
Tilak
SKY
Pandya
Rinku
Axar
NKR/Parag
Varun
Arshdeep
Bumrah

7 bowling options. Batting till 8.

 

[Vikram1989]

Nitish can replace Jadeja. Rinku can remain.

Abhishek
Samson
Tilak

Arshdeep
Bumrah

7 bowling options. Batting till 8.

Jaiswal should be in for tilak.tilak really struggles for strike rotation on slow surfaces like yesterday.At the end it was 124 sr for him. As the wc is in feb/march, pitches will become quite slow .I hope mayank will be fit and can replace Arshdeep. Mayank will win 2 or 3 matches on his own.

 

[saimayubera]

Jaiswal should be in for tilak.tilak really struggles for strike rotation on slow surfaces like yesterday.At the end it was 124 sr for him. As the wc is in feb/march, pitches will become quite slow .I hope mayank will be fit and can replace Arshdeep. Mayank will win 2 or 3 matches on his own.

Think the team will come into being through the year.

 

[Kianig89]

Pakistan are going in right direction after ousting RizBar from t20s, 1st learning experience done in NZ. Now a series awaits which was once considered a routine punching bag has now become a fierce rivalry. Pakistan will clash with Bangladesh to make their t20 wc preparations full-proof.

Saim
Fakhar
Haris+
Salman c
Irfan
Khusdil
Shadab
Abbas
Rauf
Abrar
SSA/Naseem/Sufyan

Bench : H Nawaz, Usman
========================

Sadly the lack of talent is evident specially the bowlers

 

[kron]

Australia has little chance i feel.
again it will be down to NZ, SA and India. maybe WI or SL can spring a surprise if their revival continues.

Australia was never a good t20 team

Never

It’s a myth that they don’t care

It’s cause they are crap they don’t seem to care in t20

That is reality

No one cares for odi anymore

 

[kron]

One cannot rule out Australia in any ICC event

You can in t20 they are never good in t20

 

[pratiktc]

It looks like fast and accurate wristspin will be the key to breaking games in Indian conditions.

We have seen that powerful batting lineups will not be handcuffed in powerplay despite wkts falling and if they are set then death overs are also buffet.

Strong batting sides need to be unlocked with wickets in middle overs and guys like Noor, Varun seem the only solutions.

Pak should be giving a long run to Sufiyan Muqeem

 

[pratiktc]

I believe the time of mistake inducing bowlers like Adil, Chahal and Zampa is coming to an end. Teams have to look beyond and find bowlers who have pace off the wkt and enough two way movement to beat either edge.

It is probabilistically a poor venture now to toss ball up slow and wide and ask batter to hit. Modern batter will take it on with reverse switch even if unable to pick ball spin while adjusting to ball off wkt.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

You cannot have Shadab as the only main spinner in the team, this will be the same mistake made like in the 2023 World Cup.

You need another specialist wicket taking spinner. Agha and Saim are 6th and 7th bowling options, they cannot play as the 5th bowlers.

Shadab can only play as a spin bowling if he plays. Either drop a fast bowler for a specialist spinner or drop one batsman, put Shadab at 7 which will leave one space for a spinner.

Agha and Saim are more than capable of bowling 2 overs each.

Shadab is only there because I can’t think of anyone else in Pakistan right now that isn’t any different to Shadab the bowler.

There’s no specialist wicket taking spinner in Pakistan. Just like Shadab, they all get smashed around the park and will pick up a useless wicket in the end.

If we did have a specialist spinner that can actually create a breakthrough in his first spell then he’d easily replace Shadab in my XI.

 

[pratiktc]

Agha and Saim are more than capable of bowling 2 overs each.

It is this thinking which is precisely outdated. Agha and Saim are 100% #6 and #7 options only to be brought in when frontliners have a terrible day.

In past, you could get away with 2 ovs 20-22 runs from a part timer in T20. Now modern dat batters will target 20-25 runs off them in a matchup over. If a team needs 4 overs from part timers in a T20 game, they will be microtargeted to an insane level.

Remember that Sanju Samson played an ODI chase vs SA confident of delaying his charge because he felt he could get 30+ in Shamsi's last over of spin. And he nearly pulled it off. This obsession with part timers is the first thing that has to go.