Brett Lee Backs Suryakumar Yadav for MVP, Tips Australia to Win T20 World Cup

Brett Lee picked Suryakumar Yadav as his Most Valuable Player for the T20 World Cup and predicted Australia as champions.

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has backed India captain Suryakumar Yadav to win the Most Valuable Player award at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins on Saturday, February 7. Lee’s prediction came after Suryakumar returned to form in India’s recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Suryakumar endured a difficult 2025 in T20I cricket, managing just 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62. He failed to register a single half-century during the calendar year. However, the right-handed batter rediscovered his touch in India’s final assignment before the World Cup.

Against the Kiwis, Suryakumar scored 242 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 80.67 and a strike rate of 196.75. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award.

Lee also tipped India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to finish the tournament as the leading wicket-taker. Speaking on the Mr. Cricket UAE podcast, Lee praised the spinner’s form and suitability to tournament conditions.

“His form coming into this, the wickets will be prepared that will suit him, the way that he can bamboozle the batters, I think this is set for him, this will be his World Cup,” he said.

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Chakaravarthy is currently the top-ranked bowler in T20I cricket. He claimed four wickets in three matches against New Zealand. The 34-year-old has so far played 36 T20Is, taking 59 wickets at an average of 15.69 and an economy rate of 7.15.

Brett Lee Names Australia as Winners

Lee also shared his views on the teams likely to reach the latter stages of the tournament. He named India, Australia, England, and New Zealand as the four semi-finalists, while describing New Zealand as the dark horse in the 20-team competition.

When asked to pick a winner, Lee narrowed it down to India and Australia but ultimately went with the reigning ODI world champions.

“It’ll be one of two, India or Australia. Don’t hate me, Australia will win, that’s my heart,” the 49-year-old stated.

India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. Australia, meanwhile, are in Group B with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman.