There is less than a week left for the 2026 T20 World Cup. As the teams prepare for the exciting ICC event in India and Sri Lanka, former India opener Aakash Chopra has thrown light on two-time champions West Indies’ playing XI and their chances of winning the T20 World Cup. When the tournament was last held in India in 2016, the Windies were the champions.
The team, which has a lot of talent and firepower, will try to win the trophy for the third time. However, Aakash Chopra believes that they will qualify from the group stage but will be eliminated from the Super 8 stage. West Indies have been placed in Group C along with England, Italy, Scotland and Nepal.
Aakash Chopra chose the probable playing eleven of West Indies
Recently a video shared on his YouTube channel, named ‘Aakash Chopra’. He shared the probable playing eleven of the Windies team with several all-rounders, two spinners and a fast bowler.
According to his prediction given on the channel, “The XI could be – Brandon King, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Moti and Jayden Seales.”
Also Read: West Indies T20 World Cup squad: Complete SWOT analysis – Will they surprise everyone?
‘He should pass the first round and stay in the second round’- Aakash Chopra
He further predicted that the West Indies would go through the group stage, but would not have the strength to win the competition, failing to even qualify for the semi-finals. The two-time champions have failed to impress in the last two T20 World Cups in 2022; They crashed out of the group stage, and in the previous edition in 2024, the team crashed out of the Super 12 stage.
“Bangladesh were in their group earlier. Now Bangladesh is not there. They have been replaced by Scotland. So I am saying England and West Indies should go to the next round. However, after that they will be in India’s group – India, Australia, South Africa and West Indies. This is where their journey should end. They should get through the first round and stay in the second round.”
“They have a very beautiful past. You have won the first two ODI World Cups. If we talk about T20 World Cups, they have won two there too. This is a team that can really win. So you have to come to protect that legacy, and it is a big opportunity for everyone involved.”
West Indies will have to rely more on spin
According to Aakash Chopra, the team lacks death bowling ability with Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd and will rely mostly on spinners. Akeal Hossein is predicted to start with the new ball. Most of the Windies games take place during the day. Of their four matches, two are scheduled at Eden Gardens, Kolkata and the other two at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
He said, “What could be their strategy? They will probably still rely more on individual talent. Whoever is playing can play an innings that leaves everyone behind. In bowling, of course, you have to play as a unit. I don’t see too much fast bowling from them. I think they will use spin more.”
