Former India captain MS Dhoni has backed India to make history at the T20 World Cup 2026, terming Suryakumar Yadav’s team as the most complete and most dangerous team in the tournament, while identifying dew as one of the factors that could complicate matters.
Speaking at a public event, Dhoni said that India is all set for its first ever successful defense of the T20 World Cup title, but he stressed that managing the conditions, especially the dew, would be key if they were to be met.
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“They are one of the most dangerous teams,” Dhoni said when asked about India’s chances of retaining the title. “You know, they’d already start batting or bowling. But what do you need in a good team? It’s all there.”
Dhoni pointed out that experience and role clarity set this Indian side apart, especially in a format where pressure situations come quickly and repeatedly.
“They have experience. Especially in this format, experience is huge. They played under pressure. Whatever role he plays in the team, he’s been in that situation for a long time,” he added.
What Dhoni warned India about in the T20 World Cup
While careful not to spoil India’s campaign, Dhoni admitted that external conditions can play a role even in a short tournament.
“What worries me? Again, I hate the dew. The dew changes a lot of things. So even when I was playing, something that really scared me was the dew. Where the toss becomes decisive and all that,” Dhoni said.
India’s strength, he says, lies in their consistency across conditions, provided the playing field remains reasonably balanced.
“If we play 10 games against some of the best teams, we will come out victorious more often than not if the conditions remain neutral,” he noted.
Are India T20 World Cup favourites?
India’s recent record boosts Dhoni’s confidence. They have not lost a single bilateral series or tournament since lifting the T20 World Cup in 2024. In this period, India have won 32 matches and lost only five, underscoring their dominance in the shortest format.
Since August 2023, India have won 49 of their 63 T20Is and lost only three. They currently top the ICC T20I Men’s Team Rankings and boast the best performances in the format, with Abhishek Sharma ranked the top batsman and Varun Chakaravarthy the leading T20I bowler.
India enter the 2026 edition as both hosts and defending champions, chasing something no men’s team has ever accomplished. No host nation has lifted the T20 World Cup and no defending champion has successfully retained the title.
As Dhoni indicated, all the tools are there. What happens next will determine whether India can conquer the dew, the sweep and history itself.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 4, 2026