ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Which Teams are favorites to lift the trophy based on current form – Detailed team-wise analysis.
The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is slated to commence in February 2026 and the defending champions India along with Sri Lanka, will play hosts to this 20-team tournament.
We all know the T20 format is unpredictable where any side can beat any other side, irrespective of the rankings. Upsets have happened plenty of times in T20 World cups. So the term favorites may not apply to T20Is compared to the other formats.
However based on the current form, we could arrive at the possible contenders for the marquee event.
India are the favorites to defend their World T20 title
Quite dominant in the format
Ever since they won the World Cup for the second time, Team India have been a dominant force in T20I cricket. In the 20 matches they played in that time, the men in blue have won 16 games and lost just three of them. The last time India lost a bilateral T20I series was back in 2023, when West Indies defeated them 3-2.
Since then, they have gone 11 series undefeated (winning 10 of them) and, in the meantime, won the T20 World Cup. To further show their firepower in T20Is, India achieved three of the top four highest innings in the last 12 months and won games convincingly.
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What makes their strong force?
Number one is the players they have. Thanks to the IPL, India has been getting a lot of new talents who can outshine their opponents on their own. They have a crazy amount of depth in both the batting & bowling departments and several world-class all-rounders to support them. The other thing is the ready replacements available to fill the void, if there is any need.
India’s next assignment is the Asia Cup, where again they start as the overwhelming favorites to retain the title.
Australia show that they are not lagging behind
While Australia have never shown the invincibility in the T20I format that they have shown in the other two formats, their recent form has been sensational. While the Aussies are in a transition phase when it comes to this format, they have trounced most of their opponents in recent months.
After a hard-fought drawn series against England away from home in 2024, Australia won three series on the trot, and in two of them was a series whitewash. They became only the second side to inflict a 5-0 series on an opponent (won in West Indies) and then went on to win a close series (2-1) at home against South Africa.
Much like India, Australia have plenty of next-gen players like Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Aaron Hardie, and Cameron Green coming in and joining veterans like Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, and skipper Mitchell Marsh, among others. Australia will next travel to New Zealand in October before hosting India in the format.
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England, though inconsistent, boasts great talent
Unlike India and Australia, England haven’t found consistency in the format, but there is still a long way to go for the T20 extravaganza. Before that, England will have a great chance to dominate the T20 scene with the team they have.
Their present T20 squad comprises a fearless bunch of players who boast a lot of confidence in themselves. Batters like Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, and Jacob Bethel can win games on their own. They have plenty of options to choose from in terms of batters and bowlers, and are blessed to have all-rounders like Liam Livingstone in their ranks.
Another thing that sets them apart from the rest is the depth in their batting order. They have an unbelievable firepower concerning their batting order, and no target may seem enough if these youngsters deliver on the given day.
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South Africa can add another ICC trophy to their cabinet
One of the most consistent sides when it comes to ICC tournaments, South Africa doesn’t want to leave any stones unturned in this T20 World Cup. After losing to India in the final of the 2024 edition, things haven’t been smooth for the Proteas in the format, losing 12 of the 19 T20Is they have played. But one can’t underestimate this side led by Aiden Markram, thanks to the talent they possess.
South Africa has some exciting young talents like Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorious, and Triston Stubbs joining the likes of Rassie van der Dussen, Hendricks, and Markram in the batting department. It gives them a perfect mix of experience and youth in terms of batting, and all-rounder Corbin Bosch has given them a huge boost in the lower order.
Only concern is their bowling combinations, but they do have time to fine-tune them to turn it into a tournament winning squad.
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