T20 World Cup 2026 Predictions

• Outright T20 World Cup winners: India - 3pts win @ 13/10 (Bet365)
• Group A winner: India – 6pts win @ 2/13 (QuinnBet)
• Group B winner: Australia - 6pts win @ 4/11 (Ladbrokes)
• Group D winners: South Africa – 2pts win @ 5/4 (Bet365)

The T20 World Cup starts on Saturday 7 February and runs right through until the final in Ahmedabad, on Sunday 8 March.

The co-hosts and holders India will again have a huge part to play in the outcome of the tournament and it’s no surprise to see them as the pre-tournament favourites to underline their superiority on their home patch.

Skippered by Suryakumar Yadav, the hosts have an unbelievably strong squad, including Hardik Pandya, fast bowling superstar Jasprit Bumrah and left-armer Arshdeep Singh.

I expect them to dominate their opponents for the most part and it would not surprise me if they went through the tournament with a 100 per cent record, as they appear to have all bases covered. They should win Group A, with their only potential serious opposition, Pakistan, not even certain to play their arch rivals.

Any team is, of course, capable of an off day and if that fate befalls Yadav’s team, then Australia would be my idea of the team most likely to mop up, though England remain red hot on their day, while South Africa can’t be ruled out.

India should be capable of seeing off USA, Namibia, Netherlands and, if they consent to play, Pakistan to win Group A unscathed. They’re long odds-on to do so but if Pakistan don’t play them, this looks tantamount to that old bettors expression ‘buying money’.

T20 World Cup Prediction 1:India - 6pts win @ 2/13 (QuinnBet)

Expect Safe Passage For Australia

Co-hosts Sri Lanka are in Group B and there’ll be a whole stack of commitment by captain Dasun Shanaka and his squad to try to secure a place in the Super Eights stage.

To do so, they’ll have to beat Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman and I think with home advantage, they could do so but they’ll struggle to topple Australia, who are firm favourites on betting sites to progress as group winners and I think will do so.

T20 World Cup Prediction: Group B winner: Australia - 6pts win @ 4/11 (Ladbrokes)

England To Rise To The Occasion

With Scotland having replaced Bangladesh in Group C, there’ll be some ‘home nations’ interest, as the Scots will play group favourites England. Harry Brook has a strong squad to skipper, including Jos Buttler, recent Test centurion Jacob Bethell, the brilliant leg spinner Adil Rashid and, if he can stay fit, the zip of Jofra Archer.

England have the right ingredients to win their group but that’s not taking anything away from West Indies, who have vasts amounts of T20 experience in the various world franchises and really ought to qualify for the last eight under the tutelage of Shai Hope. Italy and Nepal complete that group. I’m leaving that group alone for the simple reason that England are a best-priced 2/5 and while I wouldn’t put you off getting involved if desired, they can be slow starters away from home.

Who Will Emerge From Group D?

Obviously, any self-respecting World Cup in any sport has a so-called ‘group of death’ and for me, in this competition, it’s Group D, which includes, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada and United Arab Emirates.

Aiden Markram leads the Proteas into battle, with Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Norte all part of a classy-looking squad.

For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner is an able leader and can draw upon the skills of Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham and Devon Conway, while the Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan have famously bagged big scalps on the world stage before and include Naveen Ul Haq and Fazal Hal Farooqi. They can also get involved in what could be a real scrap for qualification.

I think there’s a bet here on South Africa to win the group outright, for all it could be tough to do so. They’re currently the only group favourites on cricket betting sites who are odds against and I think they can justify those odds.

World T20 2026 Prediction: Group D winners: South Africa – 2pts win @ 5/4 (Bet365)

Responsible Gambling

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Make sure you use the safer gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.

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England Test captain Ben Stokes has revealed a significant facial injury after being struck by a cricket ball.

The all-rounder posted a striking image on Instagram, showing his right eye heavily swollen and bruised, alongside a graze on his cheek and lip, and a bandage stuffed into his nose.

Stokes light-heartedly captioned the post: "You should see the state of the cricket ball."

The 34-year-old recently returned to England following the dismal Ashes tour, which concluded last month with a 4-1 defeat.

His position remains under scrutiny amid an ongoing ECB review into the series.

The post-mortem continues, with England coach Brendan McCullum claiming some of the fallout has been "out of order".

England had travelled over to Australia with optimism high that they could secure a first Ashes win Down Under since 2010-11.

However, Stokes’ men lost the first three Tests as Australia retained the Ashes within 11 days.

England did pick up a consolation win in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, but slipped to another defeat in the series finale in Sydney.

Stokes endured a miserable series with the bat, averaging just 18.40 across 10 innings, although he fared better with the ball, taking 15 wickets at an average of 25.13.

Stokes’ captaincy was also called into question, with some pundits critical of his bowling changes and field placings, while the all-rounder also admitted after the series that he had made some big mistakes along the way.

England’s off-field antics also sparked controversy, with a mid-series trip to Noosa attracting headlines amid reports of a drinking culture within the England camp.

Now back in England, Stokes is expected to potentially feature for Durham in the early County Championship rounds, if his facial injuries are not too serious, before England’s Test summer kicks off against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June.

The 2026 edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup is being staged in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

India are the reigning champions, having defeated Australia the previous final in Barbados.

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Brendon McCullum has expressed his excitement for England’s pursuit of a third World T20 title, asserting that the team has already showcased the crucial tactical flexibility required for the tournament that could decide his coaching future.

Confidence within the squad has been significantly boosted by their recent tour of Sri Lanka, where they secured a 2-1 One Day International series victory against a side that had won their previous seven 50-over series on home soil, followed by a comprehensive clean sweep in the T20 matches.

Speaking after the 3-0 T20 win in Kandy, McCullum, whose position has come under the spotlight after a disastrous Ashes, acknowledged the demanding nature of the competition.

"I’m excited about the World Cup and the demands of that," he said. "We’re going to have to be very clever with how we go about our different oppositions and conditions we’re confronted with but really excited about what that brings."

He added that he was "immensely satisfied with the work that we’ve done so far, the way that we’ve been able to adapt to different conditions, the style that we’ve brought and the tactical acumen that we’ve shown."

England are set to commence their campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday, in a group that also features the West Indies, Scotland, and Italy.

With the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, McCullum anticipates significant challenges but remains optimistic about his side’s prospects.

A key factor in their potential success will be the performance of their spin attack. England’s spinners claimed nine wickets in the 12-run victory during the third T20 in Sri Lanka, with Adil Rashid consistently brilliant throughout the tour.

He has been ably supported by Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, and Jacob Bethell, with Rehan Ahmed also waiting in the wings.

McCullum highlighted the tactical nous displayed by his team, particularly in the final T20.

"Tonight was another example of a team which is prepared to change tactically and play the situation to what was required," he explained.

"To bowl 16 overs of spin, defending a low total on a surface which is having its third game on it is what was required.

“The application and the investment from the group to acknowledge that and go all in on that strategy is immensely satisfying when you look at it from a coaching point of view because you know that they’re trying to stand up to what’s in front of us and we will need that over the next little while."