When Canada takes the field for their final ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Afghanistan on Thursday in Chennai, Navneet Dhaliwal will walk away knowing it is the last time he will do so in international cricket.
The 37-year-old former captain confirmed his decision after Canada’s defeat to New Zealand ended their hopes of advancing to the Super Eight. There was no elaborate announcement, just a clear confirmation that the journey had reached its natural end. Navneet’s move to Canada will be remembered for its flair. (Photo: PTI)
Dhaliwal leaves as Canada’s leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals, a batsman who has made it through qualifiers, regional tournaments and two World Cups. His international career began in 2015 when he made his List A debut against the Netherlands in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two. A decade of steady accumulation and quiet leadership followed.
“I played under-19 cricket for Punjab. That’s where my cricketing journey started. Then I moved to Canada. I’ve been playing for Canada for about 10-12 years now and I’ve featured in two World Cups. I come back to India every now and then. It’s been a good journey,” Dhaliwal told Indiatoday.in.
‘THE VOICE OF CANADA’S WORLD CUP’
Under his leadership, Canada won 21 T20Is. He has led in 29 matches in the format and also captained in four ODIs. His leadership coincided with a period when Canada struggled to consistently reassert itself on global qualifying tours.
He often led from the front with the bat. In the 2018 19 Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies, he was Canada’s top scorer with 271 runs in six matches. In Namibia in 2019, during the second division of the ICC World Cricket League, he again led the charts for his side with 219 runs in five matches. In Malaysia later that year, he smashed 140 off 94 balls against the hosts in the Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament, powering Canada to 408 for 7.
He was already the captain when he made his T20I debut against the Cayman Islands in August 2019. In the Americas Qualifier, he finished as the top scorer with 190 runs in six matches, underscoring his importance. Navneet’s determination has earned her a lot of praise. (Photo: PTI)
However, the World Cups defined his public memory. He counts his 61 off 44 balls in Canada’s first-ever World T20 match among his career highlights. In the ongoing 2026 edition, he scored 108 runs, including 49 balls, 64 against South Africa and 34 against the UAE.
“Actually, this is my second World Cup. The previous one was in the US – I played that too. It was a very good innings. I think our opening batsmen came out quite early, so the idea was to at least build a partnership and try to take the game as close to the end as possible. We’ll see what we can do at the end. So it was a good innings from that point of view.”
For Dhaliwal, playing in India again was an experience in itself.
“The experience was very good – especially because when I left India the stadiums weren’t that good. But now when you look at the infrastructure, it’s unbelievable. The first day we just walked around with our phones, taking pictures and thinking about where we’ve come. I’ve played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – the stadiums there are also very good – but India is another level.”
A COMMON CAUSE IN CRICKET
The associated teams have fielded some of the front-runners in this T20 World Cup. They came close to causing the upset and showed that the gap is not as wide as many believe. But when it comes to finishing games, experience has made a difference. For Navneet Dhaliwal, it’s not about lack of talent. He believes affiliate players need regular exposure against top teams to really develop their skills and turn those close defeats into wins.
Dhaliwal has spent more than a decade navigating the uncertainties associated with cricket and speaks less with frustration and more with conviction. He has long insisted that inclusion is essential not just for competitive balance, but for the global future of sport.
“I think even the legendary Ashwin once said why bringing in Associates is not good – but I don’t know. I believe it’s very entertaining. For example, when Nepal play a Test nation and it becomes a close match, it’s very interesting. India vs Pakistan is always interesting of course. But if India and Australia play over and over again, then it’s not as great and it’s not as interesting – unless the underdog comes. I get more excited.”
For Dhaliwal, the argument is not emotional. It is structural.
“So I believe the affiliated teams should definitely be involved. It also supports cricket. It’s a World Cup – it’s supposed to be global. If cricket has to participate in the Olympics at world level, then the more nations that play, the better. Look at football – everyone gets a chance. That’s how the game grows around the world instead of being limited to 10, 12 or 15 teams.”
His advocacy extends beyond tournament slots. He sees domestic leagues and bilaterals as essential bridges between aspiration and execution.
“We have tournaments like the Cayman tournament where the USA, Bermuda and a few other countries are involved. Then there is the ODI circuit. Whenever there is an ODI series, there are usually some T20 matches as well, so we get experience from that. But yes, we need more exposure. I don’t think we have played against very strong teams. If we played against very strong teams, we will continue to improve. S.” the boys are doing well – especially at the last World Cup we performed very well, so we’ll see.’
‘IPL DREAMS AND INSPIRATION’
Although he spent more than a decade in Canadian colours, his inspirations were formed in India.
“At that time it was Sachin Tendulkar, sir. Then Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli too – he was kind of in the under-19s back then. I was about one or one-and-a-half years younger. Watching them was very inspiring.”
Before signing off, Dhaliwal admitted that he would like to play at least one IPL game for Punjab Kings. But fate had other plans as he retired from international cricket without getting a chance to play in the world’s biggest T20 league.
“My favorite IPL team keeps changing (laughs) but if I get a chance to play I would like to play for Kings XI because I’m from Punjab. And my favorite player now is Abhishek Sharma. I also really like Ishan Kishan’s journey. At one point he was completely out. I don’t know what his mindset was but I saw him come back to the international game with the first ball like that. It’s a tough thing, I don’t know how he does it because after a certain time you come back, you feel like you have to prove yourself right away, but it’s been really great since the first ball.
There may be no dramatic farewell on Thursday when Dhaliwal makes his last appearance. Canada is now out of contention. The center point will be elsewhere.
But for Associate cricket, and for many players who leave home to keep their dreams alive in new countries, his career has meaning. It was about staying relevant without regular matches, about managing without the safety net of the big boards and about insisting that the cricket map should be wider.
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– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 19, 2026