Almost every pundit and expert has touted Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian cricket team (T20I) as the overwhelming favorite for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
With the addition of the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy, some even feel this is the best version of Team India in the T20I format and a stronger lineup than the one that won the title two years ago in Barbados.
The 10th edition of the men’s T20 World Cup kicked off last Saturday, and on the opening day itself, this marauding Indian team was given a huge scare by the USA as India’s power-hitting batsmen, barring Suryakumar, succumbed on a two-paced, tacky Wankhede pitch against the USA bowlers.
The skipper produced one of his best T20 knocks, scoring 84 off 49, to take India to 161, a total that looked miles ahead when the team was in trouble at 77/6 and then 118/7. The Indian bowlers, despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was down with fever, then backed up Suryakumar’s efforts and halted the USA to 132, clinching a 29-run victory.
India are in Group A, alongside USA, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands. Barring an unbelievable miracle, India would proceed to the Super 8 stage.
Not the opposition, but perhaps the most challenging aspect for India to contend with in this tournament will be the dew factor if they are put in to bat first as all of their matches are night matches.
The Men In Blue are on an outstanding winning streak. India have won all their T20I bilateral series and multilateral tournaments since their unbeaten winning-est run at the 2024 ICC T20 WC in the West Indies and USA, which includes seven consecutive match wins at the Asia Cup last year.
Suryakumar and Gambhir’s team has the talent and capability to go all the way and win the title like Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s outfit did two years ago.
If India win the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, they will achieve these three historic, never-made-before records in the men’s T20 World Cup history.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: 3 historic records India will achieve in men’s T20 World Cup if they win the trophy
First team to win two consecutive men’s T20 World Cups
Across the first nine editions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, three teams (West Indies, England, and India) have won the trophy twice. However, none of them won in consecutive editions. West Indies won in 2012 and 2016; England in 2010 and 2022; and India in 2007 and 2024.
If India clinch the trophy this year, they will become the first team to successfully defend its men’s T20 World Cup crown, ergo the first team to win two consecutive men’s T20 world titles.
First team to win men’s T20 World Cup on home soil
India are the co-host of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The final is slated for Ahmedabad, but if Pakistan reaches the final, it will be played in Colombo.
Nonetheless, since India are a co-host, if they win the trophy, regardless of where the final will be played, the Indian cricket team will become the first team to win an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as a host or co-host or on their home soil.
This feat hasn’t been achieved in the previous nine editions. Only once in nine men’s T20 World Cups has a home team reached the final: Sri Lanka in 2012, but they lost the final against West Indies in Colombo.
First team to win three men’s T20 world titles
If the Suryakumar-led Team India emerges victorious on March 8 in the final, India will become the first nation to collect their third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy. As mentioned above, West Indies and England are the other two teams, apart from India, with two men’s T20 world titles under their belt.
Will Jasprit Bumrah play against Namibia and Pakistan?
Jasprit Bumrah missed India’s match against USA because he was not well. He had also been rested from India’s warm-up match against South Africa on February 4.
Bumrah is likely to feature in India’s games against Namibia on February 12 and then against Pakistan on February 15 if the IND vs PAK happens at all.
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