Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik feels defending champions India will be a tough proposition at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, pointing to the side’s depth, aggressive style of play and strong performances in home conditions.
With less than a month remaining before the tournament gets underway on February 7, Karthik joined Nasser Hussain and Ian Bishop in assessing India’s prospects at the multi-nation event.
“India is a very tough team to beat in most parts of the world, but when it comes to their own backyard, they play some seriously good cricket.
“Everybody is aware of the depth in Indian cricket, which is fascinating to see because they could almost put up a couple of teams and still compete quite comfortably, given the recent success they’ve had. It’s a fairly fresh team they’re coming up with now. There are no longer the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They have a new captain in Suryakumar Yadav and a very young side, and they’ve played some fabulous, very attacking cricket,” he said on Jiostar.
Former West Indies quick Ian Bishop noted that while past success does not guarantee future results, India’s preparation between World Cups places them in a strong position as defending champions.
“History has some bearing, but I don’t think it is the be-all and end-all. There are a number of cautionary tales. West Indies were champions in 2016, but when the tournament was played again in 2021, they didn’t go very far. From the women’s side, New Zealand came in after losing a lot of games and then went on to win the World Cup in 2024,” Bishop said.
“With India being the defending champions, it depends on how they’ve built between World Cups, and I think they’ve built pretty well. So their history will be a positive one,” he added.
Bishop also underlined the impact of dew during February and March in the subcontinent, particularly in India and Sri Lanka.
“One of the biggest challenges in India at that time of year is dew, which plays a massive role. I remember the 2016 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium. India scored over 190, but the dew made it difficult to field, and West Indies chased it down. Dew played a huge part in that game, and it remains a big factor in subcontinent conditions,” he said.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain reflected on the evolution of T20 cricket and the format’s growing global appeal.
“Teams have gravitated towards white-ball specialists, and those specialists have gravitated towards T20 cricket because of its popularity. While many still love Test cricket, if you ask fans, especially in this part of the world, what their favourite format is, many will say T20,” Hussain said.
“That’s why a T20 World Cup is such a massive tournament, particularly when it’s held in India and Sri Lanka. It’s a shop window as well. Perform on the biggest stage under pressure, and franchises around the world are watching. It’s a format that produces upsets and unforgettable stories, and that’s what makes it so exciting,” he added.
India have been drawn in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia in the marquee tournament. The defending champions will begin their campaign against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, followed by a clash with Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12.
India’s high-profile encounter against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, before they wrap up the league stage against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18.