‘This team is really hungry’: Smriti Mandhana on India’s T20 World Cup 2026 push as squad departs for England
Smriti Mandhana highlights team hunger, batting depth, and preparation ahead of the England tour and World Cup campaign starting June 12.
Smriti Mandhana highlights team hunger, batting depth, and preparation ahead of the England tour and World Cup campaign starting June 12.
Across decades of global tournaments, a quirky pattern has surfaced that many cricket followers now recall with a smile. Each time India has lifted a men’s World Cup, a Malayalee cricketer has been part of the squad.
The Blackcaps and Sri Lanka share Group B with England and Pakistan, making every fixture vital in the race for the knockout stages.
Bangladesh has also sought greater financial compensation and hosting rights for a global event, likely the 2028 Under-19 World Cup, according to sources cited in the report.
India enter the tournament as favourites to become the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title, while Monank Patel-led USA will aim to spring an early surprise in their campaign opener.
India posted a mammoth score of 240/6 in 20 overs. Opener Ishan Kishan slammed 53 off 20 deliveries, including two fours and seven towering sixes.
The contest serves as India’s final dress rehearsal before the defending champions begin their title defence against the USA on February 7.
The previous edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup was hosted in the West Indies and the USA in 2024, where India emerged as champions, ending their 13-year-long ICC title wait in the format.
Pakistan were scheduled to unveil their official T20 World Cup kit ahead of the second T20I against Australia in Lahore on Saturday, but the event has now been called off, with no clarity on when it will take place.
Scotland will now feature in the league stage of the World Cup, with all of their group matches scheduled to be played in India.
