Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a stark warning to the International Cricket Council that no one will be watching the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup due to the frequency of ICC events and the widening gulf in quality between the competing teams.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel that the increasing number of one-sided matches in the early stages of the competition could turn fans away from the action.
“Nobody will be watching the ICC T20 World Cup this time. India versus USA, India versus Namibia – these are the games that literally take you out of the World Cup,” Ashwin said. “World Cups used to be once every four years. Because of that, the interest is used to build. India played England or Sri Lanka in the first round and that was a lot more fun.”
Ashwin also raised concerns about the ICC’s regular scheduling of tournaments, suggesting that it has reduced the sense of anticipation traditionally associated with World Cups. He pointed to the widening gap between established teams and up-and-coming sides as a major problem, arguing that mismatches in the early rounds were stripping the tournament of its competitive edge.
Since 2010, the ICC tournaments have been held almost every year, except for 2018. The T20 World Cup was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and again in 2022. The 50-over World Cup followed in 2023, now followed by the T2025 World Cup and the T2025 World Cup in another World Cup in T2025 T20 World Cup in 2026.
The former outfielder’s comments echo concerns expressed by sections of fans and former players that an increasingly crowded international calendar has led to repetition and spectator fatigue.
20 teams will participate in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. India will start the tournament as the defending champions and are among the favorites to retain the title. The competition will be played in five groups, with hosts India taking on the USA in the opening match.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
January 2, 2026
