The Suryakumar Yadav-led India national cricket team is full of confidence heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and Ravi Shastri feels the team can create history.
The former Indian head coach said the Men in Blue have a real chance of becoming the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title. India is in great form after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Ravi Shastri backs India to create history in T20 World Cup 2026
They have not lost a single series and have won 32 matches while losing only 5. They are also currently the No. 1 ranked T20I team in the world, which clearly shows how strong and organized the team is right now.
Also read: Great performance by Sanju Samson! Making India’s dream of T20 World Cup 2026 come true
Citing the right balance, excellent current form and a dangerous top order, Shastri believes India will start the T20 World Cup 2026 as clear favourites.
“I think the defending champions start as clear favourites. Man-to-man, current form, match fitness and the amount of cricket they have played in recent times makes them clear favourites. And especially when you look at the top order and the kind of form they are in,” ICC quoted Ravi Shastri as saying.
Shastri praised India’s well-balanced team
The former Indian head coach also praised the selectors for selecting a mix of young players and experienced stars for the tournament. He told that many youngsters will play their first World Cup, which will give them a chance to play freely without pressure.
At the same time, the team still has experienced players from the 2024 title-winning side who know how to handle big moments. Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the bowling attack, while Hardik Pandya has been in “great form” and looks set to deliver big performances with both bat and ball.
The renowned broadcaster also said that Shivam Dubey has also improved a lot and has become a strong middle-order option. “The burden on a lot of players is less. They are playing their first World Cup, and this is an opportunity for them to express themselves. And from a team that played the last World Cup and won it in the West Indies, you have got a lot of experience and talent,” Shastri said.
Ravi Shastri praises Tilak Verma and spin power ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Meanwhile, the Men in Blue are waiting for Tilak Verma to be fully fit, and Shastri feels the young left-hander is a very important player, saying that his presence at the top will “make a difference” as he is a “fantastic player”. Tilak gives India more balance in the batting lineup.
Spin bowling is expected to play a big role in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and the former Indian captain believes that the defending champions are well covered in this area. With Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, they have many spin options and good variety.
Also read: Bangladesh badly exposed, ‘India unsafe for T20 World Cup’ lie collapsed with Delhi trip approval
“I think spin will play an integral role. And India have enough ammunition in that spin department. There’s Chakraborty, there’s Axar Patel, and there’s Kuldeep Yadav. When you look at the variety, the players in the right positions, and the balance, India can defend this title,” Shastri said.
Shastri warned, even 15 bad minutes can cost India dearly
However, the former Indian all-rounder also warned that playing at home brings pressure, and he feels how the defending champions handle the pressure, especially at the start of the tournament, will decide their fate in the upcoming tournament.
“When you are defending your title and when you are playing at home, there is pressure, and it comes from nowhere. In a T20 game you have 15 bad minutes, 10 bad minutes and it can decide the outcome of the game,” Shastri said.
And often, you lose those 10 minutes or 15 minutes because of the pressure. So, this is how India handles that pressure, the way they start the tournament. If they start well, even if there are bumps along the way, they have the batting depth to get them out of it.