This T20 World Cup 2026 all set to begin on February 7 Indiatogether with Sri Lanka Holding a global event together – similar to the ones that ended recently Women’s Odi World Cup 2025Those who see the Indian women’s team lift the trophy in style. As defending champions, expectations are high for Team India, who enter the tournament with one of the most balanced and in-form squads in the world. Still, identifying the real match-winners in such a star-studded side is no easy feat.
But the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran ashwin He accepted the challenge and named two players he believed and believed in the Mega event and, surprisingly, Jasprit Bumrah not one of them.
Ravichandran Ashwin picks India’s trump cards for T20 World Cup 2026
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin shared his thoughts on India’s key strengths for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Instead of the obvious choice – Bumrah, who dominated the 2024 edition – Ashwin was highlighted Varun chakraborty and Abhishek Sharma “Two biggest guns” like India.
Ashwin explained that while Bumran’s brilliance is undisputed, opposition teams are now gearing up to face him. The challenge for teams, he said, lies in codifying the mystery and impact of Chakravarthy’s Spin and Abhishek’s all-round prowess.
“If any team wants to win the T20 World Cup in India, I have mastered two factors till date. Ashwin said.
The former India spinner highlighted that the duo’s contrasting yet complementary styles make them a nightmare for opponents. Varun’s deceptive spin on the Indian tracks and Abhishek’s explosive batting at the top of the order could well tilt the games in India’s favour.
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Why Jasprit Bumrah didn’t make Ashwin’s list
Bumrah’s absence of Ashwin, the player of the tournament in India’s 2024 triumph, may come as a surprise to many. However, the seasoned cricketer reasoned that Bumran’s consistency has made him a known entity. Teams are already planning to survive his game plans rather than attacking him.
In contrast, Varun’s secret Spin and Abhishek’s fearlessness with the bat offer unpredictability – a quality that can break the rhythm of even the most seasoned opponents. Ashwin believes these two players could be the deciding factor in India’s bid to retain the title on home soil.
“Opposition teams can plan for Bumrah, but handling Chakravarthy’s changes and Abhishek’s aggression will be the real test” he added.
