The Ncakos316 2026 Men's T20 World Cup Preview & Predictions

We are now three weeks out from the start of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup and it is shaping up to be one of the best editions yet. Defending champions India are still the team to beat and are looking quite formidable coming into the tournament. However, there are 19 other sides looking to snatch that crown away from them. Let's have a look at who they are, and how hopeful they should be:

Group A

India, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Namibia

Prediction: 1. India 2. Pakistan 3. Namibia 4. USA 5. Netherlands

Surprise, surprise. India and Pakistan find themselves in the same World Cup group again because the ICC can't run itself properly and needs the money. India, in all honesty may as well have started this tournament in the super 8 stage as they will have absolutely no issue in this group. Even if they do, somehow, lose to Pakistan, the other sides in the group simply won't offer enough competition for them to stumble further. Pakistan do have the advantage of playing all their games in Colombo but may be pushed by a team like Namibia and did lose to the USA in the 2024 edition, although I can't see that being the case this time around.

Namibia have a decent side and beat South Africa just a few months ago to unveil their new stadium with a bang. Namibia will be too strong for the Netherlands, who I expect to finish bottom of this group, and their game against the USA may be a bit of a classic clash. So, barring a huge upset or two, expect India and Pakistan to occupy the top two positions come the end of the group stage.

Namibia (Photo: Getty Images)

Group B

Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

Prediction: 1. Australia 2. Sri Lanka 3. Zimbabwe 4. Ireland 5. Oman

This is an extraordinarily tough group to call. Australia win it, fairly easily in all likelihood, but deciding who joins them in the super 8 stage is a hugely difficult task. I've gone with Sri Lanka because, well, they're playing at home. They have never lost a T20I match to Ireland or Oman but have been beaten twice recently by Zimbabwe, who will be their biggest competition to that second spot.

Zimbabwe will be looking to pip Sri Lanka to second and have played really well in T20Is over the last year. They have a great selection of players who can win any game individually on their day. Ireland will be trying to better their performance in 2024 where they finished last in their group and will do this by beating Oman.

Australia will top their group (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Group C

Bangladesh, England, Italy, Nepal, West Indies

Prediction: 1. England 2. Nepal 3. West Indies 4. Bangladesh 5. Italy

Right, let's get controversial. Nepal are advancing from this group and I reckon they'll get as far as the semi-finals. They won't beat England but can absolutely beat all the other group participants. They are currently on a six game winning streak and recently won a three-game series against the West Indies quite comprehensively, losing only the dead rubber fixture. At the previous World Cup, Nepal narrowly lost a game they should have won against Bangladesh but I can't see that repeating itself.

Bangladesh had a mixed 2025, winning series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan (neutral venue), Netherlands, Afghanistan and Ireland but losing series against the UAE, Pakistan (in Pakistan) and the West Indies. They will compete with the West Indies for third place. Then, bringing up the rear, will be Italy. Their qualification surprised and delighted many who see it as huge for the development of the game in Europe. They qualified along with the Netherlands at the Europe Region Finals which also included the likes of Scotland, Guernsey and Jersey. However, since then, internal scuffling and politics have cast a shadow over the team. Joe Burns has resigned as captain and been left out of the squad, replaced by Wayne Madsen. Italy have not played a game since July, although many of their players ply their trade in England and Australia. The three-game series against Ireland in late January will have to be decent enough preparation before the tournament starts. England qualify top here, followed by Nepal.

Ready to shock the world (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Group D

Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE

Prediction: 1. New Zealand 2. Afghanistan 3. South Africa 4. UAE 5. Canada

More controversy! South Africa are going to seriously struggle here so let's get my reasoning out of the way. Afghanistan have chosen a seriously strong squad that makes a lot of sense and will work well as a unit. 2024 finalists South Africa, on the other hand, have chosen a side full of fantastic individuals but how those individuals will be used and what the team make-up will be is difficult to imagine. They have not settled at all on their lineup, bowlers are constantly rotated and if you ask anyone in South Africa what they think the Proteas' best XI is, you'll get a different answer nine out of ten times. There is no consistency with South Africa, not once in 2025 did they pick the same XI consecutively, and some selections and exclusions have baffled supporters. I can't see them beating New Zealand and although they have never lost a T20I to Afghanistan, I can see this being the first time.

New Zealand, who I think will win the tournament, and Afghanistan will vie for the top spot while Canada will have to beat the UAE for the first time if they want to avoid finishing bottom.

An early exit awaits (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)

Other predictions

Winners: New Zealand

Semi-Finalists: India, Nepal, New Zealand, England

Most Runs: Abhishek Sharma (India)

Most Wickets: Adil Rashid (England)

Player of the Tournament: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)