Indian cricket team (PTI Photo) India head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 on home soil with the weight of expectations widely seen as the team to beat. After lifting the trophy in 2024, Suryakumar Yadav’s side were backed by many to defend the title and script history by becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup in three editions. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also counts India among the front-runners, although he sounded a note of caution ahead of the marquee event. In a video shared by the Cricket Association of Bengal on Instagram, Ganguly emphasized the importance of timing the form right in major tournaments. “In these big tournaments, it’s important to peak at the right time and play well during the tournament,” he said.
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The former captain was quick to reiterate his faith in the current squad, pointing to the balance and depth across the departments. “India is a very strong team and I think they are at their best at the moment. Batting, spin department, seam bowling under (Jasprit) Bumrah. So there is a lot of quality in the side,” Ganguly said. While acknowledging that past results offer no guarantees, Ganguly remained optimistic about India rising to the occasion. “I know the past doesn’t matter, but it will come to a head in a big tournament and I think they will be one of my favourites,” he added. India’s confidence is buoyed by a dominant run in T20I cricket. They have not even lost a bilateral T20I series under Suryakumar Yadav since winning the 2024 World Cup. Abhishek Sharma tops the ICC T20I batsmen’s rankings individually, while mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy leads the bowlers’ list. In the group stage of the FIFA T20 World Cup 2026, India will face the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands and Pakistan, with the top two teams advancing to the next round.
