Defending champions and co-hosts India head into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with confidence and form, making them strong contenders to shatter multiple
tournament records. Suryakumar Yadav will be leading in his first ICC event as captain. India's squad includes openers like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, a middle-order featuring Suryakumar, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya.
Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh and backed by quality spin options, puts them in contention to break immense records. Running high on momentum after recent series wins, India has big records that can see them get under their belt.
Here are the 3 records India could make in T20 World Cup 2026
3. First team to successfully defend title
Defending a T20 World Cup title has been an impossible task so far in the history of the competition. Since the tournament’s inception in 2007, no men’s team has managed to retain the trophy, with defending champions often being eliminated early in the next edition or at best ending with the semi-final. India, winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup, can make history at the 2026 marquee event in India and Sri Lanka.
Unlike the 50-over format, where West Indies and Australia have successfully defended titles, or the women’s game, where Australia has dominated across formats, the Men’s T20 World Cup has not ticked this box. India itself experienced this harsh reality in 2009, when they crashed out without a win.
2. First team to win at home
The Men in Blue have a solid chance to become the first team ever to win the title at home. Despite nine editions of the tournament, no host nation has managed to lift the trophy, with Sri Lanka’s runners-up finish in 2012 being the closest. With the 2026 edition co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and most matches, including the final, set to be played in India if Pakistan fails to qualify, the hosts will enjoy a significant home advantage.
India enter the tournament as defending champions, and their depth across departments and familiarity with conditions make them strong favourites. Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith believes India has a genuine edge at home, though he believes that the competition is balanced with Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand also in contention.
1. First team to win three T20 World Cups
India stand on the brink of history as they eye the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the chance to become the first team ever to win three titles in the tournament’s history. Currently, India share the record for most T20 World Cup wins with England and West Indies, having lifted the trophy twice (2007 and 2024). Notably, no team has managed a third title across nine editions so far.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team has looked dominant in the format, recently clinching a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20I at Raipur. Chasing a target of 209, India equalled their highest successful T20I chase, sealing victory in just 15.2 overs despite losing both openers early. Since the last World Cup, India has won 22 T20Is and is riding high on form and confidence entering the competition.
