KEY POINTS
- Harbhajan Singh predicts India, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan will reach semi-finals.
- He omits two-time champions England and former winners West Indies from his list of favourites.
ISLAMABAD: Former Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh has unveiled his predictions for the four teams most likely to reach the semi-finals of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, omitting two-time champions England from his list of favourites.
The tournament is set to commence on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
In his selection, Harbhajan backed defending champions India, alongside Australia and South Africa, with Afghanistan as his surprise fourth pick.
Notably absent from his predictions are former champions England, and the West Indies, who won the title in 2012 and 2016.
Home advantage for India
Speaking on India’s prospects, Harbhajan highlighted their significant edge as hosts but cautioned that handling expectations would be key.
“I think India have a very good chance to win the [T20] World Cup because they are a very strong team and they are playing at home. They know the conditions better than anybody else,” he said.
He added a note of caution, stating, “But the World Cup pressure is something which they need to handle better than the others, which is the most important thing.”
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, enters the tournament on the back of a dominant 2025 season, having won 16 out of 19 completed T20I matches.
They will be defending the title they won under Rohit Sharma in the 2024 edition.
Contenders and dark horses
Harbhajan’s other picks include perennial powerhouses Australia and South Africa.
Australia, the 2021 champions, will be aiming for their second T20 World Cup title, while South Africa will be seeking to go one step further after their runner-up finish in 2024.
The former off-spinner’s most notable selection, however, is Afghanistan, recognising their rapid ascent as a formidable force in the shortest format.
This choice comes at the expense of more traditional contenders, signalling his belief in the evolving landscape of international T20 cricket.
The predictions set the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive tournament, with several top teams vying for glory on the subcontinental pitches.
