With 50 days remaining for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to commence in India and Sri Lanka, anticipation surrounding the defending champions’ campaign is escalating. India is set to announce their squad at the BCCI HQ in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon, a moment expected to set the tone for their title defense.
Former India players Irfan Pathan and Robin Uthappa, both part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup team in South Africa, have singled out Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy as crucial players in India’s quest to retain their title.
Key Player: Abhishek Sharma
“Abhishek Sharma is actually going out there and scaring the opposition’s new ball bowlers, which is very important to put them on the back foot. I actually said it recently as well – he’s doing the same role as someone who’s bowling with the new ball, taking the early wicket in the first or second over. When you do that, you’re actually putting your team ahead of the other team,” said Pathan regarding Sharma’s role.
Pathan emphasized the importance of Sharma continuing his performance since the World Cup one and a half years ago in the West Indies. “If he does the same thing, what he’s been doing, I think we’ll be fine. There’ll be some innings he might actually take the game away from the opposition in the first 6-7 overs. That’s the kind of role he’s playing and it will be very crucial,” he added.
Since July 2024, Abhishek has seamlessly filled the opener’s role left by Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format after the T20 World Cup triumph. In 32 matches, his explosive batting has garnered 1081 runs at an average of 36.03 and a high strike rate of 188.98, including two centuries and six fifties.
Focus on Varun Chakaravarthy
Turning to Chakaravarthy, who has claimed 49 wickets in 26 matches since his return to the Indian team in late 2024, Pathan highlighted the spinner’s mental resilience following his disappointing performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup. “Varun Chakaravarthy, apart from his skill, confidence, and his role in the power play as well as in the middle overs, his mindset to come back after a setback becomes very crucial at a big stage,” he stated.
Pathan recalled Chakaravarthy’s transformation post-2021: “If you remember in 2021, he was in the World Cup, he went astray, then he came back, worked on his bowling, and added variations. The most important thing he’s added to his armoury is his mindset – to make a comeback. So these two guys will be playing a very, very important role apart from Jasprit Bumrah.”
Uthappa’s Insights
Uthappa, who has been closely monitoring the Indian team due to his role as a JioStar expert, acknowledged the pressure both players will face during the marquee event, while expressing confidence in their ability to meet expectations. “Obviously, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on them. But the wonderful thing we’ve seen over the last couple of years is that both of them have handled that pressure exceptionally well,” he mentioned.
Uthappa also pointed out Chakaravarthy’s significant evolution from 2021. “What’s wonderful to watch about someone like Varun Chakaravarthy is that he’s actually worked on his bowling. He’s gotten really accurate with his lengths and developed a second line of defense if those lengths don’t work,” he remarked.
He emphasized the importance of supporting bowlers, including pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. “I think the start of the innings becomes very crucial. Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have to continue to shine like they have been,” Uthappa said.
Abhishek’s Adaptability
On the topic of Abhishek, Uthappa observed his response to a fluctuating batting order in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. “I think the moving batting order is putting a little bit of pressure on Abhishek Sharma. But I think he’s responding well,” Uthappa explained.
He acknowledged Sharma’s adaptability: “We’ve seen in this series when the South African bowlers try to tie him up, he adjusted well and came out dominating. We just hope and pray that his form continues through the next three months at least,” he concluded.