as T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, Team India find themselves in a familiar but demanding position – favorites with high expectations. Being both hosts and champions, the pressure is huge, but so is the confidence that surrounds this Indian side. Their dominance in the shortest format over the past two years has been built on depth, adaptability and an evolving understanding of modern T20 cricket.
India’s squad is full of explosive batsmen, versatile all-rounders and bowlers who thrive in high-pressure situations. With players familiar with the pitches, weather patterns and ground dimensions, the home conditions further strengthen their position. More importantly, India showed that they can win not only at home but also in the conditions that are the hallmark of championship teams. Consistency, bench strength and clarity of roles have turned India into a side that has rarely looked troubled, making them the leading contenders in scripted history, defending their T20 World Cup crown.
MS Dhoni shares his thoughts on India’s chances in T20 World Cup 2026
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni believes that this Indian team has all the ingredients to re-enter the tournament. shares his thoughts in the video shared by Jatin Sapru On Instagram, Dhoni described India as one of the most dangerous teams in world cricket.
“One of the most dangerous teams” Dhoni said while assessing India’s title defense prospects. He emphasized that whether the side is batting or bowling, it is always on.
According to him, the greatest strength of the current team is its completeness. India ticks all the boxes needed to succeed in T20 cricket.
“You know, they would have already started batting or bowling. But what does a good team need? It’s all there.” Dhoni added.
Dhoni highlighted the experience and role clarity that characterize this squad. Familiarity with pressure situations becomes invaluable in a format where extreme speed can change. He noted that most of the players in the current set-up have played similar roles over a long period of time, reducing confusion in moments of crisis. This consistency, Dhoni feels, is what separates the good teams from the ones that win the tournament.
“They have experience. Especially when it comes to this format, experience is huge. They have played under pressure. Whoever plays what role in the team, they have been in that position for a long time.” observed the former captain.
Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Complete squads of all teams with their captains
Dhoni explains why dew could be the biggest concern for Team India
While Dhoni expressed strong faith in India’s overall strength, he was careful not to overlook the unexpected elements that could affect short tournaments. The legendary captain identified dew as the most troubling factor in India’s campaign, something he personally disliked during his playing days.
“What bothers me? Again, I hate the dew. The dew changes a lot of things. So even when I was playing, the one thing that really scared me was the dew. Where shooting matters and all that,” Dhoni admitted, explaining how it heavily skews matches and can make a shot disproportionately important. Wet outfields and slippery balls often neutralize quality bowling attacks, especially the spinners, turning contests into one-sided affairs.
Despite this concern, Dhoni remains optimistic, provided the conditions remain fairly neutral. He believes that in long matches against top teams, India will win more often due to superior balance and consistency.
“If we play 10 games with the best teams, if the conditions remain neutral, we will come out as winners more often” Dhoni added.
Also READ: From Virat Kohli to Babar Azam: Leading run-scorers in every edition of the T20 World Cup
