DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced its team of the tournament for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan among the standout performers named in the roster.
The team was selected by a distinguished panel of experts, including West Indian great Ian Bishop, former England captain Eoin Morgan, coach-turned-commentator Natalie Germanos, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena and Sri Lankan sports journalist Rex Clementine.
Despite Pakistan’s inconsistent campaign, which ended in the Super Eight stage, opener Farhan was a model of consistency.
His remarkable tally of 383 runs in seven matches set a new record for the most runs by a batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
The 29-year-old also created history by becoming the first player to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup. His magnificent hundred against Sri Lanka in the final Super Eight match was the cornerstone of a crucial five-run victory for his team.
Sanju Samson played an instrumental role in India’s triumphant campaign and was rightly named Player of the Tournament. Initially unable to break into the Indian starting XI, Samson seized his opportunity in spectacular fashion when it mattered most.
The right-hander unleashed his run-spree with a blistering, unbeaten 97 against West Indies in a virtual knockout Super Eight clash.
He continued his sublime form with 89 against England in the semi-final and followed it up with another crucial 89 in the final against New Zealand.
In doing so, he became only the third batter to record half-centuries in both the semi-final and final of a T20 World Cup, and just the second to notch three consecutive scores of 80 or more in the tournament’s history.
Ishan Kishan made a powerful impact with his relentless aggression at the top of the order. His three half-centuries were remarkable contributions, but he also provided vital quick knocks of 38 against Zimbabwe and 39 against England.
His best performance, however, came against arch-rivals Pakistan. After India lost an early wicket while batting first, Kishan took charge with a breathtaking 77 off just 40 balls, an innings laced with ten fours and three sixes.
After spending two years on the bench, Kishan’s redemption arc was over as he contributed a vital 54 and made two crucial catches in the final.
Aiden Markram led South Africa admirably by winning their first seven matches of the tournament. While opening the batting, he never shied away from his responsibilities, scoring three half-centuries.
He was particularly effective in Ahmedabad, scoring an unbeaten 86 in a key group stage win over New Zealand and another unbeaten 82 against the West Indies in the Super Eights.
In the match against India, Markram also led with the ball, providing a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Kishan in his very first over.
Although the Proteas fell short in the semi-final, Markram’s captaincy and handling of a talented bowling attack was very impressive.
For several years, Hardik Pandya has played a vital role in India’s success with his ability to change a game with bat or ball. He continued this rich run of form in the World Cup, amassing 217 runs and taking nine wickets.
Pandya scored two half-centuries, the second being a whirlwind 50 off just 23 balls against Zimbabwe, propelling India to 256 for 4 – the highest team total in the 2026 tournament and just four points short of the all-time T20 World Cup record.
With the ball, his best figures of 2 for 16 came in three crucial overs against Pakistan. Opening the bowling, Pandya removed the opposition’s biggest threat, Farhan, for a duck and then bowled Usman Tariq to conclude the innings.
The tournament was a highlight for Will Jacks, who established himself as one of the best all-around players in attendance.
After dropping down the order, Jacks perfects the role of finisher. His best score was an unbeaten 53 against Italy, but he also played a vital role against India and scored an unbeaten 32 against New Zealand to guide his team to an improbable victory in the final Super Eight match.
The off-spinner also recorded three wickets in the Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka, setting up a convincing 51-run win. Jacks’ four player of the match awards took him level with Shane Watson for the most such honors at a T20 World Cup.
A formidable fast bowler and powerful lower-order hitter, Jason Holder was one of the stars of the tournament.
His all-round prowess was on full display in the Super Eight clash against India, where he took 2 for 38 and scored a crucial 37 off 22 balls, albeit in a losing cause against the co-hosts.
The 6’7″ pacer used his height to extract bounce from even the flattest of tracks and went on a rampage against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium. Holder took 4 for 27, dismissing three of the top five, to set up a dominant nine-wicket victory.
Although the Indian batting line-up is formidable, it is Jasprit Bumrah who elevates the team above the rest. In the 2026 World Cup, he finished as the highest wicket-taker alongside teammate Varun Chakaravarthy.
He saved his best for last, taking 4 from 15 in the final against New Zealand to win the Player of the Match award.
Beyond just taking wickets at the right time, it is Bumrah’s ability to disrupt an opponent’s batting rhythm that sets him apart. His laser-guided precision and deadly yorkers turn his spells into pressure-cooker moments.
In the semi-final against England, he took only one wicket, but his 18th over, which conceded only six runs, proved crucial.
In a match that saw a total of 499 runs scored, Bumrah’s economy rate of 8.25 was the best of the two sides and arguably the reason why England lost by seven runs.
Lungi Ngidi was one of the best fast bowlers in the tournament. He started with impressive figures of 4 for 31 against Canada and added two more three-wicket hauls.
Against India, he may have gone wicketless, but his spell at four, conceding just 15 runs, was crucial in helping South Africa contain India’s formidable batting line-up.
Ngidi used his experience, variations and slower balls to great effect on largely hitter-friendly pitches.
Adil Rashid is the only specialist spinner selected in the team. He used the conditions judiciously, particularly in Sri Lanka, to help England win six of their first seven matches.
While his best figures were 3 for 36 against Scotland, Rashid played a pivotal role in the Super Eight victories against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. After England were restricted to 146 for 9 by Sri Lanka, the leg-spinner caused the home side’s collapse with figures of 2 for 13 in 3.4 overs.
Against India, he operated in damage control mode, claiming the key wickets of Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to finish with 2 for 41.
Muzarabani’s blessing played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s dream run. After missing out on the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe produced their best-ever performance, reaching the Super Eights.
They announced their arrival with a 23-run victory over Australia, a match in which Muzarabani took superb figures of 4 for 17, dismissing the Australians for 146.
In the group stage, the pacer took nine wickets in just three matches as his team finished top of Group B.
American Saurabh Netravalkar was arguably the best bowler in the group stage. Although the United States could not replicate their 2024 exploits and progression to the Super Eights, Netravalkar was in a league of his own.
He started with a four-wicket haul against India, leaving the co-hosts struggling at 77 for 6 before recovering. He followed it up with another brilliant performance, taking identical figures of 4 for 25 against Pakistan.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: Sahibzada Farhan, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Adil Rashid, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani.
12th man: Saurabh Netravalkar.
