The tenth edition of the T20 World Cup will take place in two countries, India & Sri Lanka in 2026 and it will be the same format as in the 2024 edition where 20 teams will participate. We already have 12 confirmed participants in the tournaments and eight other slots will be filled courtesy of ICC continental events over the next 2 years.
These 12 teams attained qualifications on the basis of being the hosts (India and Sri Lanka), having finished in the top 8 in the standings (USA, West Indies, England, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia) and 3 teams based on their superior rankings (Pakistan, New Zealand and Ireland). With the tournament slated to happen in February 2026, the teams will be starting to put together a solid squad for the marquee event.
The planning will start from the leadership and the respective sides would need to single out who will lead them enroute to the World Cup. Here are our predictions on who will lead each of 12 qualified sides in the 2026 edition of T20 World Cup.
India – Hardik Pandya
The defending champions India have already begun their work towards building a T20 team for the World Cup. With retirement of Rohit Sharma from the format, the men in blue already have few contenders to lead them but as the designated vice-captain in their victorious 2024 campaign, Hardik Pandya emerges the likely player to captain India.
South Africa – Aiden Markram
South Africa had a spectacular run in the 2024 event having remained unbeaten in the tourney until the final hurdle. Part of the reason for their success was its skipper Aiden Markram, whose astute captaincy was instrumental in taking them to their first ever World Cup final. So in all likelihood, Markram will continue to lead South Africa in 2026 aas well.
Sri Lanka – Charith Asalanka
Following their disappointing show in the World Cup 2024, where they failed to reach the Super 8 stage, Sri Lanka’s skipper Wanindu Hasaranga relinquished his captaincy. So the Lankan team will be looking for a change in the personnel to be at the helm of things. Being a core member of the side and having led Sri Lanka in the past, Charith Asalanka could be the ideal option.
England – Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler has been a leading player in the white ball format over the years and has led England team to T20 World Cup glory in the 2022 edition. Under his leadership, England once again reached top four in 2024 and there is reason for the “Three Lions” to beyond Jos Buttler for a similar role in 2026.
Afghanistan – Rashid Khan
One of the best white-ball players going around in the world, Rashid Khan is the ideal person to captain Afghanistan in the 2026 edition. He led his side to their first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance and is likely to don the same hat when tourney comes to the subcontinents in 18 months time.
USA – Monank Patel
USA were undoubtedly the biggest success story of the just concluded World Cup. Having entered the tournament just merely as a hosts, USA shocked the world by reaching the Super 8 stages. They beat a former T20 World champion team like Pakistan and much of the due should go their leadership team, including its skipper Monank Patel. As a result of finishing in the top 8, they will feature in their 2nd World Cup and Patel is likely to lead them there as well.
West Indies – Brandon King
Much was expected out of West Indies in the T20 World Cup, but they failed to qualify for the semi finals. With this, time could be running out for their skipper Rovman Powell both as captain and a player. They may very well look for a fresh face to be at the helm and Brandon King could be an ideal candidate. King has captained West Indies in this format thrice in Powell’s and may take up this responsibility more often in the lead up to the 2026 tourney.
Australia – Mitchell Marsh
Australia is a team that is known to keep their leadership group intact and despite them not reaching Super 8s, the management will likely persist with the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as the skipper for the next edition as well. Marsh’s record as T20I skipper of Australia is very good where two of the three defeats from 15 games came at the 2024 World Cup.
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Bangladesh – Litton Das
The Asian giants were led by Najmul Shanto in the T20 World Cup and endured shock loss to Afghanistan in Super 8s to cap of their tournament. Shanta has been looked at as a captain in all 3 formats but his individual returns were disappointing in the World Cup. This could prompt the team management to look for an alternate option in the format and someone like Litton Das will be an ideal candidate.
Pakistan – Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan team was considered one of the favorites to reach the knockouts of the tournament if not winning the title. But their campaign was cut short following defeats to USA and India in the group stages and couldn’t even reach the Super 8s. Much has happened in Pakistan cricket since then and Babar’s T20 captaincy tenure could be danger as well. Mohammad Rizwan, having led Multan Sultans to glory in PSL is an option to replace Babar.
New Zealand – Mitchell Santner
The black caps had a torrid tournament failing to reach the Super 8s and this could be the time to revamp their side as well. With Kane Williamson stepping down from captaincy following the team’s exit, the Kiwis need appoint to a new skipper for the shortest formats. Mitchell Santner who has led NZ in 22 T20Is before can be don that role full-time, especially given the fact that World Cup is happening in India and Sri Lanka.
Ireland – Paul Stirling
One of Ireland’s long time servants of the game, Paul Stirling could lead them in 2026 as well. They didn’t particularly have a great tournament having lost to Canada in group stages but Ireland boasts some good young players with whom Stirling can form core with.
![PAK vs BAN [WATCH]: Mohammad Rizwan grabs a screamer to dismiss Zakir Hasan on Day 3 of the first Test](https://i2.wp.com/crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mohammad-Rizwan-takes-a-screamer-to-dismiss-Zakir-Hasan-on-Day-3-of-the-first-Test.webp?w=380&resize=380,220&ssl=1 "PAK vs BAN [WATCH]: Mohammad Rizwan grabs a screamer to dismiss Zakir Hasan on Day 3 of the first Test")
