Defending champions India will enter the next edition's T20 World Cup as strong favourites, considering their dominating wins in the shortest format of the game. After losing the second T20I against Australia, the Men in Blue bounced back in style, winning two consecutive matches to take 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Ashwin picked Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy
After India's dominating 48-run win against Australia, spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that if a team wants to defeat the hosts in the T20 World Cup 2026, then they need to 'master' opener Abhishek Sharma and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
“If any team wants to win the T20 World Cup in India, they will have to master two factors. I was saying until now that handling Jasprit Bumrah. But I will say right now, the way I have seen Tim David handle Varun Chakravarthy, I am thinking teams will gun for Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy if they have to get past India,” said Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
Ravichandran Ashwin for Varun Chakravarty
Ashwin also explained how Tim David had attacked Chakravarthy during the match in Hobart and now broke down how Australia’s new-ball bowlers stayed away from Abhishek Sharma’s swing arc to ensure they kept a cap on his scoring through the powerplay. Notably, Abhishek, who is India's highest run-getter in the Asia Cup 2025, has scored 140 runs, including one half-century in four T20Is against Australia
“Against Abhishek Sharma, they will see this plan Australia has used against him in this series, and they will imbibe that. Whoever is coming for the World Cup will prepare similarly against Varun Chakravarthy because that will give them the leverage in that World Cup,” explained Ashwin.
Venues shortlisted for T20 World Cup 2026
The BCCI reportedly shortlisted Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup and the title decider of the mega event will take place at iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Each venue will likely get six games. The marquee event will take place in a hybrid model where matches featuring Pakistan will take place in Sri Lanka, but there is no clarity over which venues those would be.