New Delhi: The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. A total of 54 matches will be played in the 10th edition of the tournament,
which will end on March 8. The tournament expanded to 20 teams in 2024, and the number will remain the same in this edition.
However, there was a late change to the team list following the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after a long impasse over their participation. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament, who were kicked out due to their refusal to travel to India for the 2026 World Cup over security concerns.
The 20 teams have been divided into four groups, five teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 stage, where they will be divided into two groups of four teams each. The two best Super 8 sides will qualify for the semifinals.
From the 2024 edition, many prominent cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Mitchell Starc have announced their retirements from the shortest format. Meanwhile, players like Abhishek Sharma, and Dewald Brevis are set to make their debuts in the T20 World Cup 2026. Here are the top debutants to watch out for in the tournament.
Abhishek Sharma
The 25-year-old batter made his T20I debut for India in the series against Zimbabwe after the 2024 World Cup. Abhishek has already broken several T20 records in his short career with clean ball striking and explosive hitting. He has so far scored 1267 runs in 37 T20I matches at a strike rate of 194.92, smashing two centuries and eight fifties. Abhishek has been in brilliant form heading into the 2026 T20 World Cup and is a crucial player for the Men in Blue.
Dewald Brevis
The South African middle-order batter made his T20I debut in the series against Australia in 2023. He missed the 2024 T20 World Cup, but will be a crucial player for the Proteas in the upcoming edition. Brevis has been in outstanding form leading into the tournament, and has registered scores of 53, 75* and 101* in his last three SA20 matches.
South Africa had a middle order of Heinrich Klaasen and Miller in the 2024 edition, which almost took them over the line. Now, the Proteas will hope that Brevis, who is known for explosive batting, can help them lift the trophy.
Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana has received constant backlash from the fans as they feel that the fast bowler gets extra backing from India head coach Gautam Gambhir, despite failing to perform consistently. However, the tall fast bowler, who can also bowl in the range of 145 kph, could add a lot of value to the team.
Rana has picked up nine wickets in nine T20I matches at an economy rate of 10.18. The 24-year-old might not get many matches during the tournament, as Bumrah and Arshdeep are expected to be the defending champions’ first-choice pace-bowling duo in the 2026 World Cup.
Cooper Connelly
Young all-rounder Cooper Connolly can play a major role for the Australian team in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. In the last 18 months, Connolly’s career has unfolded at a high pace. He made his international debut across formats and also earned an IPL contract worth Rs 3 crore. He will arrive at the tournament after winning a Big Bash League title with the Perth Scorchers, where he chipped in with crucial performances for his team.
Jacob Duffy
Jacob Duffy will be leading New Zealand’s pace attack in his maiden T20 World Cup appearance. The 31-year-old picked up 81 international wickets in 2025 and had a sensational rise in his career. Duffy currently sits in the fourth spot among T20I bowlers in the ICC Men’s Rankings. He is known for his swing and accuracy, delivering brilliant performances against West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa to earn his place at the global event.
