Ponting, who led Australia to World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, also backed his former side to make a deep run in the tournament beginning February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
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Australia’s two-time World Cup–winning captain Ricky Ponting believes defending champions India will start as clear favourites for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing their home conditions, depth of talent and overall squad composition.
Ponting, who led Australia to World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, also backed his former side to make a deep run in the tournament beginning February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Australia will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing outing in the previous edition in the USA and West Indies, where they exited at the Super Eights stage following a shock defeat to Afghanistan and a 24-run loss to India.
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“If you look at the squad, I think they have as good a chance as anybody,” Ponting told The ICC Review.
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“India probably start the clear favourites I think in this event due to 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.”
Ponting’s assessment highlights the challenge facing visiting teams in Indian conditions, where familiarity with pitches, climate and crowds gives the hosts a significant edge. India’s strength at home has been reinforced by the consistency of their senior players and the growing depth across departments, making them the benchmark side heading into the tournament.
Ponting, however, had a word of caution for Suryakumar Yadav & Co as they approach their title defence as favourites, stating that ICC tournaments leave little room for error.
“But the thing I know about these ICC events is, one, they’re hard to win, because all the best teams in the world are playing in them and if you want to win it, you have to have all your good players playing well at the right time. That’s what Australia probably didn’t have last time around. They just didn’t have their big guns firing at the right time to win an event,” he said.
Ponting also analysed the contrast between India’s settled combination and Australia’s ongoing transition. While Australia have retained much of the core from the 2024 T20 World Cup, Ponting acknowledged that the side is still dealing with fitness concerns and change.
“There has been a slight transition around the Australian team. It’s not a dramatic one. If you look at the squad that they’ve named, there’s a lot of experience in that squad still. A few guys are injured at the moment or coming back from injury. That’s probably the biggest concern that they’ve got right now.”
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament has been the absence of Australia’s Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins, who has not fully recovered from a lingering back injury. Cummins was left out of the final 15-player squad and replaced by left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis.
Despite Cummins’ absence, Ponting pointed out that Australia’s balance, especially their all-round options, remains a key strength, something India will be wary of as the tournament progresses.
“The one thing they have got in that squad is really good flexibility with so many all-rounders,” he said.
“You look at (Marcus) Stoinis, (Glenn) Maxwell, Cameron Green, there’s so many. Cooper Connolly. Young guy that’s just won the MVP again in the BBL (Big Bash League) for the second year in row. If it looks like it will turn, I think Australia will go with Connolly to back up Maxwell and (Adam) Zampa. So, they’ve got three spin bowling options there.”
Australia’s preparations for subcontinental conditions was marred by a whitewash in the three-match T20I series in Pakistan. Cameron Green has been tried at No.3 in the opening games, a move Ponting believes could continue at the World Cup, especially with Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh forming a settled opening partnership.
“(Josh) Inglis is someone that they could bat at No.3 if they wanted to as well,” Ponting said.
“And then they’ve got that experience in the middle with Maxwell and Stoinis and Co. It’s a very good squad.”
Placed in Group A, alongside Pakistan, USA, Namibia and the Netherlands, the Men-in-Blue will open their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, while Australia, drawn in Group B alongside Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, will play their first match on February 11 against Ireland.
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