With the Super 8 stage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Now on, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has given his predictions for the four semi-finalists. The cricketer-commentator, known for his sharp tactical prowess, named defending champions India as one of the teams most likely to make it to the finals.
Dinesh Karthik’s pick of semi-finalists: Four picks
Speaking in a video shared on his official Instagram page, Karthik revealed his choices from the two Super 8 groups. He picked India and South Africa from Group 1. From Group 2, he picked Sri Lanka and New Zealand and explained why he overlooked strong rivals England and Pakistan.
“India. South Africa. The other group, Sri Lanka. And I’d say New Zealand. I feel Pakistan’s batting is a bit vulnerable. England are good but they’ve been scrappy so far. So I have reasons to feel England can fight.” Karthik said.
Given the dominant form both teams have shown in the tournament so far, Karthik’s top two picks are perhaps the least surprising.
Suryakumar Yadav-led India were majestic in the group stage. The Men in Blue topped Group A with a perfect record of four comprehensive victories against USA, Namibia, arch-rivals Pakistan and the Netherlands. The batting depth led by the in-form Ishan Kishan and a diverse bowling attack featuring Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah make them formidable opponents on home soil.
South Africa under Aiden Markram were equally dominant. The Proteas also finished the group stage unbeaten, topping Group D with four wins against Canada, Afghanistan, New Zealand and the UAE. Their balanced unit combining explosive batting and sharp bowling make them strong contenders to repeat their last appearance in 2024.
Karthik’s selections from the second group reflect his appreciation of his familiarity with the current form and conditions.
Hosts Sri Lanka have enjoyed a stellar campaign, finishing second in Group B with three wins from four games. Their Only defeat came against a resurgent Zimbabwean sideThey had impressive victories over Ireland, Oman and, most importantly, former champions Australia. Familiarity with home conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and Pallekele gives Dasun Shanaka’s side a significant advantage.
New Zealand showed great resilience despite being drawn in the same group as South Africa. The Blackcaps finished second in Group D with three wins and just one loss – that loss coming against the Proteas themselves. They started with wins over Afghanistan and the UAE before bouncing back from the setback in South Africa with a brilliant win over Canada. Mitchell Santner’s team has the tournament experience and tactical agility to handle the Super 8 challenges.
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The suitors were left out by Karthik
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Karthik’s predictions is the omission of two heavyweight cricketers: England and Pakistan.
2022 T20 World Cup champions England were “scratched” according to Karthik. Despite having a power-packed batting line-up, Harry Brook’s side looked inconsistent in the group stages, raising questions about their ability to fire collectively under pressure.
Pakistan’s exclusion stems from the weaknesses identified by Karthik. While the Salman Ali Agha-led side had a strong bowling attack featuring mystery spinner Usman Tariq, their batting order showed fragility – a concern that could be exploited on Sri Lankan surfaces during the Super 8s.
