Sri Lankan cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa has made a surprising claim about the bats used by Indian players during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Rajapaksa stated that Indian cricketers use thicker bats with an extra layer of rubber, which he believes gives them more power while batting compared to players from other teams.
These comments come as India continues its strong performance in T20Is. The Indian team has not lost a T20I series in over two years and recently won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States without any defeats.
India has maintained its strong form in the current tournament. In their last match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, they secured a convincing win over the United States.
“Indian players have bats that are far superior to the best bats we can get. It seems like a layer of rubber has been added. I can’t understand how that’s possible. These bats aren’t available for others — all players know this,” Rajapaksa told a local news channel, as reported by NewsWire X.
India has achieved 34 wins in their last 40 T20Is since the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. They have also excelled in the 50-over format, winning the 2025 Champions Trophy without loss and finishing as runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The Indian team currently has four players in the top ten of the ICC ODI rankings and three in the top ten of the T20I rankings, showcasing their strength across formats.
In their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026, India faced early challenges against the USA, who reduced them to 77/6 after opting to bowl first. Captain Suryakumar Yadav stepped up by scoring an impressive unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, helping India finish with a competitive total of 161 runs in their 20 overs.
The Indian bowlers then performed well, limiting the USA to just 132/9 in their 20 overs, resulting in a comfortable 29-run victory. India will next play Namibia in their Group A match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, February 12.
