with super 8 steps ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Now going on, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has made his predictions for the four semi-finalists. The cricketer-turned-commentator, who is known for his sharp tactical acumen, named defending champions India as one of the teams most likely to advance to the knockout stage.
Dinesh Karthik’s choice of semi-finalists: four selections
Speaking in a video shared on his official Instagram handle, Karthik revealed his selection from the two Super 8 groups. From Group 1 he chose India and South Africa. From Group 2, he picked Sri Lanka and New Zealand, explaining his reasoning for ignoring strong contenders England and Pakistan.
“India. South Africa. Second group, Sri Lanka. And I would say New Zealand. I think Pakistan’s batting is a bit weak. England are good, but they have been weak so far. So I have my reasons why I think England may struggle,” Karthik said.
Karthik’s first two selections are perhaps the least surprising, given the excellent performances of both teams so far in the tournament.
Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India is performing strongly in the group stage. The Men in Blue topped Group A with a perfect record, securing four comprehensive wins against the United States, Namibia, arch rivals Pakistan and the Netherlands. Their batting depth, led by the in-form Ishan Kishan, and a diverse bowling attack featuring Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah make them formidable opponents on home soil.
South Africa, under Aiden Markram, have been equally impressive. The Proteas also finished the group stage unbeaten, topping Group D with four wins against Canada, Afghanistan, New Zealand and the UAE. Their balanced unit, a combination of explosive batting and aggressive bowling, makes them strong contenders to repeat their 2024 final performance.
Karthik’s choice from the second group reflects his assessment of the current form and familiarity with the conditions.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka have enjoyed a brilliant campaign and finished second in Group B with three wins from four matches. their The only defeat came against emerging Zimbabwe teamWhile they recorded impressive wins over Ireland, Oman and most notably former champions Australia. R of Colombo and Pallekele. Familiarity with home conditions at the Premadasa Stadium gives Dasun Shanaka’s side a significant advantage.
New Zealand have shown tremendous resilience despite being placed in the same group as South Africa. The Blackcaps finished second in Group D with three wins and just one loss – that defeat itself being against the Proteas. They started their campaign with wins over Afghanistan and UAE and then bounced back from the defeat to South Africa with a resounding win over Canada. Mitchell Santner’s team has the tournament experience and tactical flexibility to deal with Super 8 challenges.
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Karthik eliminated the contenders
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Karthik’s predictions is the omission of two cricket giants: England and Pakistan.
According to Karthik, 2022 T20 World Cup champions England have been “bad”. Despite a power-packed batting lineup, Harry Brook’s side have looked inconsistent in the group stage, raising questions about their ability to fire collectively under pressure.
Pakistan’s exclusion is due to batting weaknesses which were identified by Karthik. While the Salman Ali Aga-led side has a potent bowling attack with mystery spinner Usman Tariq, there has been a weakness in their batting line-up – a concern that could be exploited on Sri Lankan surfaces during the Super 8.