T20 World Cup | “Our flight is booked and off we go” – Suryakumar Yadav on boycotting Pakistan
The gap between affiliate teams and full members has been steadily narrowing in recent years. The Netherlands have repeatedly sprung surprises at ICC events, backed by a solid home system and players with county and franchise credentials. The USA and Canada have benefited from expanded domestic competitions and increased international opportunities, while Nepal continues to draw strength from passionate crowds and a strong spin culture. Namibia’s rise has been built on discipline and tactical clarity, while Oman and the UAE bring valuable experience from multiple ICC tournaments and the ability to handle pressure situations. For Indian fans, the presence of captains of Indian origin leading the associate sides adds another layer of intrigue – leaders looking to prove their credentials on the biggest stage.Monank Patel (USA) Monanko Patel’s path to international leadership was far from conventional. Born on 1 May 1993 in Anand, Gujarat, he came through the Indian age-group system, representing Gujarat at under-16 and under-19 levels and even sharing the field with Jasprit Bumrah in his junior years. Despite earlier promise, his journey in Indian cricket has stalled. After securing a green card in 2010, Monank moved permanently to the United States in 2013. At one stage he seriously considered retiring from the game altogether. Instead, he rebuilt his career from the ground up, making his international debut for the USA in both ODIs and T20Is in 2019. Since then, he has been the backbone of the US batting line-up, scoring 2,288 ODI runs at an average of 34.66, with three centuries and 18 half-centuries. He also registered a century against Bahamas in T20Is. Named captain in 2021, Monank led the USA to a historic victory over Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup and won the Player of the Match award. His performances in Major League Cricket for MI New York, including a career-best 93 in 2025, further highlighted his ability to perform in big moments.Dilpreet Bajwa (Canada) Dilpreet Singh Bajwa has emerged as one of the most exciting young batsmen in associate cricket and now carries the responsibility of leading Canada. Born on 26 January 2003 in Gurdaspur, Punjab, Bajwa had his early cricketing education in India. He trained at the Government College ground under coach Rakesh Marshal and studied at Guru Arjun Dev School in Dhariwal following the traditional age group course with long hours in the nets. Before leaving India, Bajwa produced an excellent innings of 130 in the Under-19 match against Patiala, an effort that was widely expected to earn him selection for the Punjab Under-19 team. When that opportunity didn’t materialize, his family took a decisive step. In 2020, when his father Harpreet Singh worked in the Ministry of Agriculture and his mother Harleen Kaur, a teacher in a government school, the family moved to Canada. Bajwa made his T20I debut in September 2023 against Bermuda and his ODI debut in February 2024 against Nepal. He has already scored four half-centuries in T20Is at a strike rate of 133.22. He also created history in the Global T20 Canada by becoming the first Canadian to score a century when he finished unbeaten on 100 off 55 balls. Bajwa, who has been named captain for the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup, is central to Canada’s long-term ambitions.Jatinder Singh (Oman) Jatinder Singh’s rise is rooted in perseverance rather than privilege. Born on March 5, 1989 in Ludhiana, Punjab, he moved to Oman at a young age and began his cricketing journey without the support of formal academies. His early development came on cement wickets, followed by Astro turf, before switching to turf cricket in 2011 – a progression that shaped his adaptability. Inspired first by Sachin Tendulkar’s discipline and later by Virat Kohli’s standards of intensity and fitness, Jatinder steadily worked his way through Oman’s domestic structure. A right-handed top-order batsman, he made his T20I debut in 2015 and ODIs in 2019 and quickly became a mainstay of the national side. He amassed 1,704 runs in ODIs, including four centuries and nine half-centuries, with a top score of 118 against Papua New Guinea. In T20Is, he leads Oman’s run charts with 1,605 runs from 72 matches. Appointed captain in 2025, Jatinder led Oman to their first Asian Cup qualification, marking a watershed moment for the player and the country. As the T20 World Cup unfolds, these leaders of Indian origin will not only carry the hopes of their teams but also embody the global reach and evolving depth of the modern game.