countdown to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 The event has well and truly begun, with the tournament being held in India. With familiar pitches, packed stadiums and intense fan support, the event promises high-octane cricket and immense pressure on all participating teams. As anticipation grows, former players and experts have started analyzing predictions, form, conditions and temperament ahead of the global showpiece. These also include former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh He has shared his early thoughts on which teams he believes will reach the semi-finals of this marquee tournament.
Harbhajan Singh shares his predictions for T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final spots
Harbhajan believes that hosts India will be strong contenders to advance, citing their depth, balance and familiarity with home conditions. According to the World Cup winner, playing in India gives the home team a significant advantage, but it will be important to deal with the mental pressure of the global tournament.
“I think India have a very good chance of winning the World Cup because they are a very strong team and they are playing at home. They know the conditions better than anyone else. But the pressure of the World Cup is something they have to handle better than others, which is the most important thing.” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Gulf Today.
Along with India, Harbhajan named Australia as automatic contenders, highlighting their pedigree in ICC tournaments. The former spinner pointed out that Australia’s ability to perform under pressure makes them a dangerous team in any World Cup, no matter the conditions or format.
He also supported South Africa and praised their recent form and consistency in white-ball cricket. The Proteas often enter tournaments as favorites but fall short at crucial stages, but Harbhajan feels their current momentum could eventually translate into a deep run.
Their semi-final lineup is being completed by Afghanistan, a team they believe can be a major threat on Indian pitches. Harbhajan highlighted Afghanistan’s powerful spin attack and growing confidence, saying they have the ability to defeat any opponent in subcontinent conditions.
“I think Australia has always been a very good team and top contenders to win any cup. South Africa are the other contenders for the title with their current form. They have been playing great cricket for some time now. Afghanistan are also very strong with their spinners. I think they can beat anyone in these conditions. So these are my four picks for the semi-finals.” Harbhajan was added.
Also read: Rohit Sharma predicts the finalists of T20 World Cup 2026
Two-time champion England has no place in Harbhajan’s list.
The most striking aspect of Harbhajan’s prediction is the absence of two-time T20 World Cup champions England. Despite England’s reputation as one of the most explosive white-ball teams, Harbhajan did not include them in his semi-finalists, suggesting that conditions and consistency could play a decisive role.
England’s aggressive batting approach has brought them success in the past, but adapting to the slow surfaces and high-pressure knockout scenarios in India could prove challenging. With many teams improving rapidly and conditions favoring spin-heavy attacks, even established powerhouses may find the margin for error extremely slim.
Also read: Monty Panesar predicts T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finalists
