England batsman Philip Salt has revealed that his team is wary of the Indian threat heading into the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup and said it would take some luck to beat them. India have been on a rampage in T20Is since August 2023 and remain unbeaten in the format in both bilateral series and international events.
The defending champions were the most successful team in the format during that period, winning 49 of their 63 matches and losing just three. As the unbeaten Indian side head into the upcoming edition of the tournament as defending champions, Philip Salt acknowledged their immense threat and expressed his excitement at the prospect of taking on them on the marquee.
“I think everyone will need a bit of luck to beat them. I think they are by far the strongest team in the World Cup. I’m really excited about the idea of going up against them at the World Cup in their backyard,” Phil Salt said, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Salt was also effusive in his praise for India batsman Abhishek Sharma and spoke about the comparisons that have been drawn between the two, noting that both players have their own distinct strengths and styles of play.
“The fact that he can hit the first ball for a six like that, the way he runs down the wicket, fights that line from a really straight line to get it over the offside, but then he also hits the ball wide over his leg – that’s completely different. I’ll never be him. It’ll never be me. But I enjoy watching him bat,” he added.
When will India start their campaign?
Sharma is the highest run-scorer in T20Is among full member states since his debut in July 2024, amassing 1,267 runs from 36 innings at an average of 37.26 and an impressive strike rate of 194.92, including two hundreds and eight fifties. The young opener is currently world number one in the T20I rankings and is expected to play a key role in India’s title defense at home.
India will begin their campaign against the USA in the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 on Saturday, February 7. The men in blue have been placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan and the USA.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 30, 2026
