As the T20 World Cup 2026 hurtles toward the knockout stages, the cricketing world has been left buzzing by a bold declaration from one of India‘s most revered icons. Despite the ‘Men in Blue’ showing immense resilience and firepower throughout the tournament, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has looked beyond his home nation when identifying the ultimate favourites for the trophy.
In a candid assessment with India Today, the 76-year-old maestro pointed toward two other powerhouses that he believes possess a more ‘complete’ tactical edge. His reasoning doesn’t stem from a lack of faith in India, but rather an admiration for the sheer versatility and depth displayed by two sides that have already punched their tickets to the semi-finals. For Gavaskar, the ability to adapt to varying subcontinental conditions is the true benchmark of a champion.
Sunil Gavaskar sidesteps India in his T20 World Cup 2026 favourites prediction
Sunil Gavaskar has officially tipped England and South Africa as the frontrunners to lift the T20 World Cup, citing their balanced rosters as the primary reason for his choice. During a recent discussion on India Today, the former captain broke down why Harry Brook‘s side and the clinical Proteas have the edge over the rest of the field, including a formidable Indian lineup. Gavaskar was particularly impressed by England’s ability to navigate high-pressure situations, even dismissing their recent batting stutter against Pakistan as a minor hiccup caused by modern aggression.
“For me, the two favorites are South Africa and England. England might have had a close victory, but that again is down to the modern tendency to try and finish the game off with a six. England, because they’ve got the bowlers who can bowl spin as well as quick. They’ve got a very good bowling attack and the batting also, they’ve got a fair bit of depth over there. So I think England and South Africa are the two teams to watch out for.” Gavaskar said.
The path of dominance for both teams in T20 World Cup 2026
The statistics certainly back Gavaskar’s bold claims, as both sides have enjoyed a near-flawless run through the tournament’s most difficult phases. South Africa, in particular, has been a force of nature, entering the Super Eights after a perfect group stage and securing massive wins over both India (by 76 runs) and the West Indies (by 9 wickets). Their ability to handle the pressure of two Super Overs against Afghanistan earlier in the tournament proved their mental fortitude. Meanwhile, England have shown remarkable depth, recovering from an early group-stage loss to the West Indies to dominate the Super Eights with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
