As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches its final few laps, the star-studded tournament has already made an indelible mark.
The tournament has witnessed some
outstanding performances from players across the countries. South Africa and England have already qualified for the semifinals, while India and Pakistan are still fighting for a place in the last four.
Across the tournament, top-notch batting and bowling displays have been in abundance. Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett has emerged as a top performer with the bat, while USA's Schadley Van Schalkwyk still leads the wickets chart with 13 to his name in just four group stage matches.
Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq, India's Ishan Kishan and Varun Chakravarthy, and many more have already shone and dazzled in this high-octane competition.
But several star players expected to shine have underperformed significantly, impacting their teams' momentum as knockouts approach.
T20 World Cup 2026: 5 Players who have Hugely Underperformed
Here is a look at five names who have really struggle in the T20 World Cup so far.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar Azam has endured a frustrating T20 World Cup campaign, failing to deliver his trademark consistency. In four innings, he has scored 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of around 112. Key scores include 25 off 24 against England, 46 against the USA, and a dismal 5 against India. His conservative approach has slowed Pakistan's innings at critical moments, drawing sharp criticism amid the team's precarious Super 8 position and reliance on others like Sahibzada Farhan for runs.
Jos Buttler (England)
England's explosive opener and captain Jos Buttler has had a nightmare with the bat. Across seven innings in the tournament (group and Super 8 stages), he has managed just 62 runs at a poor average of 8.86 and a strike rate of 106.90. His scores reflect early dismissals: 26 off 17 vs Nepal, 21 off 14 vs West Indies, 0 off 2 vs New Zealand, 2 off 3 vs Pakistan, 7 off 14 vs Sri Lanka, and 3 off 4 vs Italy.
These failures have forced England to lean on middle-order players like Harry Brook, raising doubts about Buttler's form despite the team's semifinal qualification.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been unusually ineffective. In six matches, he has taken just four wickets at an economy near 8 runs per over. The premier South African pacer's solitary multiwicket return was in their most recent match against West Indies.
Dropped catches off his bowling have compounded the issues, putting extra pressure on South Africa's attack despite their unbeaten run.
Abhishek Sharma (India)
India's aggressive opener Abhishek Sharma has struggled badly at the top. In five innings, he has scored just 70 runs at an average of 14 and a strike rate of 140. His tournament featured three consecutive ducks (against USA, Pakistan, and Netherlands), a 15 in another game, and a redeeming 55 off 30 against Zimbabwe. His early failures have disrupted India's powerplay, though the team's depth has mitigated the damage.
Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan captain)
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has failed to lead by example as an all-rounder. In five innings, he has amassed 60 runs at an average of 12. Salman has failed as a batter, while his role as a leader has been severely questioned. As skipper, his low-impact performances have mirrored Pakistan's inconsistent campaign, leaving them fighting for semifinal qualification. Agha, who is known for his batting abilities, has never looked in control in the tournament so far.
