Nasser Hussain make his predictions for the 2026 Males’s T20 World Cup, which is reside in full on Sky Sports activities from February 7 to March 8.
The Sky Sports activities pundit and former England captain appears to be like on the prime contenders, together with England; which sides might spring a shock; and divulges his picks for main run-scorer and wicket-taker.
Watch England’s first sport on Sunday as they tackle Nepal in Mumbai from 9.30am.
Winners
I’ve to go together with India. Defending champions, dwelling benefit, immense six-hitting capability and lots of bowling depth. It is T20 so it is onerous to foretell – if South Africa didn’t have a foul 20 minutes within the earlier last they could nicely have overwhelmed India. However Suryakumar Yadav’s facet are undoubtedly those to beat this time round.
Semi-finalists
I feel I’ll say the 4 semi-finalists from the earlier World Cup, with India joined by England, South Africa and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan have a tricky opening group with South Africa and New Zealand. It is shut between Afghanistan and New Zealand, for me.
Out of all of the groups which have grown within the final decade, Afghanistan can be proper up the highest, whereas this shall be coach Jonathan Trott’s final event in cost so he’ll wish to end on a excessive.
He’s ever so calm. Not the entire time however more often than not!
Leg-spinner Rashid Khan shall be central to Afghanistan’s hopes
Afghanistan have high-quality hitters, good seam and swing choices and clearly they’re blessed with plenty of spinners. They’ve lots of expertise as nicely with gamers wanted in franchise leagues.
There are lot of excellent sides, although. Australia are all the time within the combine, Pakistan are in kind and may like Sri Lankan situations.
Sri Lanka are proficient, though they surprisingly did not bat too nicely in opposition to spin within the warm-up sequence in opposition to England. West Indies on their day are harmful.
An outsider who might push for the Tremendous 8s?
I wish to see Nepal do nicely as they’ve fanatical supporters.
Rohit Paudel’s Nepal will play England, Scotland, West Indies and Italy in spherical one
For those who see them play at dwelling or watch a Nepal Premier League sport, there shall be good crowds and I consider tickets are promoting nicely for his or her matches at this World Cup. In case you have that core, cricket-mad following, you may develop. Afghanistan have proved that.
If they’ll beat Scotland and Italy, then their Group C sport with West Indies – a workforce they beat 2-1 in a T20I sequence final 12 months – turns into large. They’re sensible within the discipline however the loss of life bowling can be one fear.
Netherlands have overwhelmed England twice earlier than within the T20 World Cup, whereas Scotland impressed in opposition to England and Australia within the final World Cup and have some very wonderful gamers, regardless of not qualifying initially and coming in final minute for Bangladesh.
What do you anticipate from England?
That is their greatest format in the mean time. They’re ranked third behind India and Australia and have a settled group. I just like the steadiness of the bowling assault higher than I did within the Champions Trophy, albeit that was 50-over cricket not T20.
Sam Curran (proper) took a hat-trick within the current 3-0 sequence sweep over Sri Lanka
Sam Curran, a superb and skilled white-ball cricketer, is again within the facet and so they have good spinners. Adil Rashid, clearly, however Liam Dawson is an actual competitor, too.
Rashid is so reliable. He hardly ever goes across the park and individuals are nonetheless not all the time selecting him which is an enormous assist. His 4 overs shall be invaluable.
You could have Phil Salt and Jos Buttler opening and a deep batting line-up, with Harry Brook very good within the center order and Tom Banton enhancing on a regular basis, constructing on the potential we’ve got all the time seen since his early days at Somerset.
England’s Tom Banton is prone to bat within the center order
Possibly a difficulty is who takes the brand new ball as that was an space Sri Lanka focused within the powerplay.
What is going to give England lots of confidence is getting over the road within the third T20 in Pallekele on a tough pitch, as we all know they’ll take you down on good surfaces.
Main run-scorer and wicket-taker
I’m going to say India’s Abhishek Sharma to prime the batting charts and team-mate Jasprit Bumrah for the bowling as I feel their facet will go all the best way.
Be careful within the crowd when India’s Abhishek Sharma is batting!
It’s important to choose a top-order batter as they are going to face essentially the most balls and Abhishek is an in-form celebrity going into the event. He’s an enormous six hitter.
Bumrah is a real wicket-taker, usually introduced on for that goal as we noticed within the last in opposition to South Africa two years in the past.
He does not all the time take the brand new ball however is essential on the loss of life when wickets are available.
Some other gamers you’re looking ahead to seeing?
It’s good to have Quinton de Kock again for South Africa. He has been taking part in very nicely since returning to worldwide responsibility. He is aware of situations nicely from taking part in within the IPL and if he can get firing, that Proteas line-up appears to be like very sturdy.
Quinton de Kock hit 100 for South Africa in a warm-up sequence in opposition to West Indies
Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, in the meantime, has accomplished very nicely at No 3 for his facet. He is a superb participant of spin and that shall be wanted in Sri Lanka.
It may be a poisoned chalice being given the Pakistan captaincy and the whole lot that goes with it however he has shaped a great mixture with coach Mike Hesson, a great calming affect, very similar to Trott is with Afghanistan.
Watch each match of the T20 World Cup reside Sky Sports activities from February 7-March 8. Get Sky Sports activities or stream contract-free.
