With two more matches to be played with New Zealand in the ongoing 5-match T20I series, calculations around the Indian cricket team are running around Team India, as they will be one of the topmost favorites to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Ahead of the tournament, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has picked up his Team India playing XI for the ICC’s elite tournament, starting on February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India will start their campaign as the defending champion.
Samson needs to score runs soon to open for India in the T20 World Cup 2026
For Kaif, the current opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be the best in the T20 World Cup 2026. Additionally, Kaif also wants to see Samson back in runs in the remaining two fixtures against New Zealand. If Samson’s run drought continues, then Kaif wants to see Ishan Kishan paired with Sharma to open the innings.
For the number three position, Kaif’s first choice batter is Tilak Varma, who is currently out of the team because of fitness concerns. The middle-order batter had to undergo surgery. After which, he has been in the process of recovering match fitness.
BCCI informed that Varma is at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, working on his fitness, and he is expected to join the main team before the tournament. The ex-cricketer also mentioned that Varma will enter the tournament without prior preparations, which can have an effect on his performance.
“If Sanju does not score in the next two games, then Ishan will come above and Tilak will come at three. He is a proven player, and you want to make him come back. But he will come straight into the World Cup without any practice. We have to see how he will be tested now. Either Sanju or Ishan will play. There is a competition there now. The next two innings of Sanju will decide who will play,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Contest between Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh
For the bowling unit, he selected Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh, keeping the batting depth in mind. As Rana can contribute with his batting too, Kaif picked up Harshit Rana over Singh. For the pace bowling line-up, Kaif chose Hardik Pandya, Rana, and Jasprit Bumrah.
“Harshit Rana will play at eight. Maybe Arshdeep will miss out there. We have seen when Arshdeep plays, Bumrah does not play. So Arshdeep will sit out. The three pacers will be Hardik, Rana, and Bumrah. Rana is ahead in the XI, as he can bat at eight,” he added.
Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh?
Kaif faced a challenge when he had to choose only one between Shivam Dube and Rinku. According to him, Rinku has played very well for the team so far, but as Dube can both bat and bowl, he chose Dube over Singh.
“Dube was a part of the 2024 winning team. He has been playing since then and is bowling as well now. If one has to be picked between him and Rinku, I feel he is ahead. Rinku has played very well. He has not done anything wrong. I have been following him. It is a good headache that there are players in the squad who will be on the bench who are also match winners,” Kaif opined.
Mohammad Kaif’s India XI for T20 World Cup 2026: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.
