As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, Team India find themselves in a familiar yet demanding position — favourites with expectations sky-high. Being both hosts and defending champions, the pressure is immense, but so is the confidence surrounding this Indian side. Their dominance in the shortest format over the past two years has been built on depth, adaptability, and an evolving understanding of modern T20 cricket.
India’s squad is packed with explosive batters, versatile all-rounders, and bowlers who thrive in high-pressure situations. Home conditions further strengthen their case, with players well-versed in pitches, weather patterns, and ground dimensions. More importantly, India have shown they can win not just at home but across conditions, a key marker of championship teams. Consistency, bench strength, and clarity of roles have transformed India into a side that rarely looks unsettled, making them a leading contender to script history by defending their T20 World Cup crown.
MS Dhoni shares his take on India’s chances at T20 World Cup 2026
Former India captain MS Dhoni believes this Indian team has all the ingredients required to go deep into the tournament once again. Sharing his thoughts in a video posted by Jatin Sapru on Instagram, Dhoni described India as one of the most dangerous teams in world cricket.
“It’s one of the most dangerous teams,” Dhoni said while assessing India’s title defence prospects. He stressed that the side appears permanently switched on, regardless of whether they are batting or bowling.
According to him, the biggest strength of the current team lies in its completeness. From power-hitters at the top to specialists in the middle overs and death bowling, India tick every box required for success in T20 cricket.
“You know, they would have already started batting or bowling. But what all is needed in a good team? Everything is there,” added Dhoni.
Dhoni highlighted experience and role clarity as defining traits of this squad. In a format where momentum can shift in a matter of overs, familiarity with pressure situations becomes priceless. He noted that most players in the current setup have repeatedly performed similar roles over a long period, reducing confusion during crunch moments. This continuity, Dhoni feels, separates good teams from tournament-winning ones.
“They have the experience. Especially when it comes to this format, the experience is vast. They have played under pressure. Whoever is playing whatever roles they are playing in the team, they have been in that situation for a considerable period of time,” observed the former skipper.
Dhoni explains why dew could be the biggest concern for Team India
While Dhoni expressed strong faith in India’s overall strength, he was careful not to overlook the unpredictable elements that can influence short tournaments. The legendary captain identified dew as the most worrying factor in India’s campaign, something he personally disliked during his playing days.
“What worries me? Again, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. So, even when I was playing, something that really scared me was dew. Where the toss becomes crucial and all of that,” Dhoni admitted, explaining how it can heavily tilt matches and make the toss disproportionately important. Wet outfields and slippery balls often neutralise quality bowling attacks, especially spinners, turning contests into one-sided affairs.
Despite this concern, Dhoni remains optimistic, provided conditions stay reasonably neutral. He believes that over a longer run of matches against top teams, India would emerge victorious more often than not due to their superior balance and consistency.
“If we are playing 10 matches with some of the best teams, we will come out as winners more often than not, if the conditions remain neutral,” Dhoni added further.
