New Delhi: With the T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, attention is mounting on India’s squad and star performers. In a recent pre-tournament interaction, India’s off-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been surprisingly overlooked for selection in some formats, revealed his choice for the Player of the Tournament, sparking debates among fans and pundits.
In a surprising turn, Chahal snubbed India opener Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav, naming pacer Jasprit Bumrah as his top pick. However, he also acknowledged Abhishek Sharma’s stellar form, dubbing him the top batter of the tournament and highlighting him as the leading six-hitter in the squad.
For context, Bumrah previously clinched the Player of the Tournament award in the 2024 T20 World Cup, finishing with 15 wickets in eight matches and playing a decisive role in India’s seven-run victory over South Africa in the final. Chahal’s choice underscores Bumrah’s continued dominance and match-winning impact with the ball.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma has been in electrifying form leading into the global tournament. In the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, the left-handed opener registered back-to-back half-centuries, extending his lead atop the T20I batters rankings. He now commands a rating of 929 points, just two shy of his career-best 931, and holds an 80-point edge over England’s Phil Salt, who sits second. India’s Tilak Varma rounds out the top three, highlighting India’s strong grip on the shortest format.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav has also been in impressive touch, climbing five places to seventh in the global T20I rankings after his unbeaten 57 in the third T20I in Guwahati. His consistent form adds depth and firepower to India’s batting lineup, complementing the red-hot form of Abhishek Sharma and other middle-order hitters as the team gears up for the high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo.
The T20 World Cup 2026 opens with Pakistan facing Netherlands, while India will take on the USA on the same day. With defending champions India fielding a confident squad, all eyes will be on Chahal’s and Bumrah’s game-changing skills, and whether India’s star batters can continue their recent scoring spree on the world stage.