T20 World Cup 2026: Four Indian Players Capable of Scoring a Century

India began their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against the USA with the weight of expectation firmly on their shoulders. Defending champions, tournament favourites, and playing largely at home, India enter the competition with a batting line-up designed to overwhelm attacks early and often.

Suresh Raina scored India's first-ever T20I century and their first World Cup hundred, a blazing 101 against South Africa in 2010. Sixteen years on, the format has evolved, strike rates have exploded, and India now has multiple batters capable of replicating and surpassing that feat.

Here are four Indian players who have both the skill-set and statistical backing to score a T20 World Cup century in 2026.

Abhishek Sharma: The powerplay disruptor

If any Indian batter looks custom-built

for a T20 hundred, it is Abhishek Sharma. A left-hander who thrives on pace, Abhishek has already shown his ceiling in international cricket, scoring a T20I century in 2024. He strikes at over 150 in T20Is, one of the highest among Indian openers, and averages above 35 in powerplays, giving him the platform needed for big scores.

What strengthens the case further is his boundary frequency. Abhishek hits a boundary roughly every 4.5 balls in T20 cricket, meaning a fast start does not require excessive risk. On flat subcontinent wickets, if he survives the first six overs, a three-figure score quickly comes into play.

Ishan Kishan: Chaos with experience

Ishan Kishan has long flirted with big T20 scores without fully converting them at World Cups yet the numbers suggest it is only a matter of time. Kishan has six T20 centuries across formats, including one in international cricket, and owns a career T20 strike rate of 135+.

What sets him apart is volume. Kishan regularly faces 35-40 balls when he gets set, a crucial marker for T20 hundreds. He also averages nearly 40 against full-member nations in T20Is, suggesting he does not rely on minnow attacks to build innings. In a tournament where India may bat first often, Kishan's combination of aggression and endurance makes him a genuine hundred candidate.

Suryakumar Yadav: The format's purest artist

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav is statistically one of the greatest T20 batters ever. He averages over 45 in T20 World Cups and strikes at 140+, an almost unheard-of combination at global events. His unbeaten 84 against the USA already underlined his ability to bat deep under pressure.

Surya's case for a century lies in control. He scores at over 9 runs per over against spin and over 10 against pace, meaning bowlers have no safe phase against him. With four T20I centuries already, including multiple match-winning knocks as captain, it would be no surprise if World Cup conditions finally align for a three-figure masterpiece.

Tilak Varma: The quiet accumulator with a late punch

Often overshadowed by louder stroke-makers, Tilak Varma may actually be India's most underrated century prospect. Tilak averages over 40 in T20Is, a rare number in the modern game, and has a strike rate close to 140, showing he does not sacrifice tempo for stability.

His biggest asset is adaptability. Tilak's scoring rate increases significantly after the 10-over mark, where he strikes at 150+, making him ideal for innings that build steadily before exploding late. In tournaments, centuries are often made by batters who understand pacing and Tilak fits that mould perfectly.