Former cricketer Anil Kumble believes India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad is not as strong as the one that won the previous edition. He highlighted that the team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will miss the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The T20 World Cup 2026 will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. As the defending champions, India is in Group A, competing with Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA during the group stage.
In a recent episode of the Out of the Park show on Star Sports, Kumble was asked if the T20 World Cup 2026 squad was better than the 2024 team on paper.
“When it comes to experience, they will certainly feel the absence of Virat and Rohit, who are two legends. However, I believe this team has a strong balance, with good bowling options and a different batting approach at the top,” Kumble said.
“That said, it will still be a tough challenge. The conditions in 2024 were different. I would rate the 2024 team about 10 percent ahead of this one, but I still think this team is close,” he added.
Kumble was also asked if India would need a player to perform in crucial moments, similar to how Kohli and Axar Patel did in the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
“Experience really makes a difference in those moments. That’s why I think someone like Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) will be essential. His form will matter, but so will his ability to help India win in critical situations,” he concluded.
