Former India captain Kris Srikkanth predicted an India vs Australia final at the T20 World Cup 2026, while naming England and South Africa as the other semi-finalists.
India is preparing to defend the T20 World Cup title after winning the 2024 edition. The team remains unbeaten in the T20I series since Suryakumar Yadav became captain in mid-2024. India enters the 2026 tournament as favourites and will target becoming the first team to retain the title.
Former World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth has predicted Australia as India’s T20 World Cup final opponent. He also named England, South Africa, and Australia as the other semi-final contenders.
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“I think India, England, South Africa, and Australia will play the semifinals. I think the finals should be between India and Australia. They will be the closest competitor to India. If these two play the final, it will be deadly,” he said on his YouTube channel, ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
Srikkanth Assesses Australia’s Squad
Kris Srikkanth then pointed to Australia’s batting depth and all-round options as their biggest strength before the tournament. However, he raised doubts over the bowling attack due to the absence of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
“Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Maxwell, and Green. If any two of these five get going, they have a powerhouse batting just like India, in all fairness. But there is no scope in their bowling. Having many all-rounders is their biggest advantage,” he said.
“But with no Hazlewood, all the others will get hit in India. Zampa and Hazlewood are brilliant. There is no one else who is a gun bowler. Batting and all-rounders are their biggest strength. They can put up 200. But whether they can defend 200 or chase 200 consistently is a question,” Srikkanth added.
The team features in Group B with Sri Lanka, Oman, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. Australia opens their campaign on February 11 against Ireland in Colombo.
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