The cricket world is buzzing with anticipation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. With the schedule now officially launched, discussions are inevitably turning to potential finalists, rivalries, and dream scenarios. Amidst this excitement, Indian cricket icon Rohit Sharma, named as a tournament ambassador, offered his thoughts on the ultimate showdown.
Rohit Sharma picks the finalist of T20 World Cup 2026
The conversation around the 2026 final gained momentum when India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was posed a hypothetical question. If India were to reach the final, especially one held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which team would he most like to defeat to clinch the trophy? Yadav’s answer was swift and clear: Australia.
“Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Australia. Definitely,” said Surya at an event in Mumbai where the schedule for the multi-team event was announced.
When Rohit was asked to weigh in on the matter, his response, while acknowledging the sentiment, leaned towards a more pragmatic and singular goal. The former India skipper agreed with the notion of Australia being a significant rival and recognized the growing intensity of matches between the two cricketing powerhouses. However, Rohit’s ultimate wish for the global showpiece event was profoundly simple and powerful: he wants India to win the title, regardless of the opponent.
“Obviously, I want India to be in the finals. I can’t really put my finger on another team and say this or that. What has happened in the past has happened. I think India playing the final against any team, and India coming out on top, is what I would love to see. I’m not sure what others want, but I don’t really care about the opposition, to be honest. I just prefer India to be there, and then let’s see what happens,” said Rohit.
India’s campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup
Notably, Team India will kick off their 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup journey on February 7 in Mumbai, where they take on the United States. They will then head to New Delhi to face Namibia on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Their next game, which is the highly anticipated showdown with Pakistan, is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The hosts will conclude their group-stage matches on February 18 against the Netherlands at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
