Following a dominant performance on home soil, four stars from the victorious Indian squad have been rightfully named in the prestigious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament.
Leading this exceptional Indian contingent is Player of the Tournament, Sanju Samson. Initially not a first-choice in the Indian XI, Samson quickly made his mark, amassing an impressive 321 runs from just five innings. His stellar performances earned him Player of the Match awards against the West Indies and England, culminating in a magnificent 89 runs against New Zealand in Sunday’s final—the highest individual score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final.
Samson is joined by his Indian teammates Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, whose outstanding contributions were pivotal to India’s triumphant campaign.
Ishan Kishan secured the fourth-highest run tally of the tournament with 317 runs. His aggressive yet consistent batting at the top of the order provided India with crucial starts, boasting an remarkable strike rate of 193.29. Kishan delivered a masterclass 77 runs as an opener against Pakistan and seamlessly adapted to the number three position, contributing vital knocks, including a half-century in the final, against England and New Zealand.
Hardik Pandya stands as the third Indian batter in the lineup, recognized for his impactful all-round prowess. Pandya registered two half-centuries with the bat, notably a quickfire 52 off 28 balls against Namibia. His devastating spells with the ball were equally crucial, securing nine wickets throughout the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah, named Player of the Match in the final, rounds out India’s representation in the elite team. His exceptional bowling earned him a share of the top wicket-taker spot, with 14 wickets from eight matches. Bumrah delivered a match-winning performance in the final with figures of four for 15 and maintained an outstanding economy rate of 6.21 across the tournament.
The top order also features Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, who emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with an impressive aggregate of 383 runs at an average of 76.60. His remarkable campaign included two centuries, scored against Sri Lanka and Namibia.
South Africa contributes two players to the team, with captain Aiden Markram among them. Markram scored 286 runs, including three half-centuries, as he led his side to the semi-finals.
Markram’s compatriot, Lungi Ngidi, also made the cut, claiming 12 wickets at an average of 15.58. Ngidi’s notable performances included four wickets against Canada and three against both Afghanistan and the West Indies. He also impressed with a remarkably economical spell against India, conceding just 15 runs from his four overs.
England’s Will Jacks slots into the middle order, earning his spot through brilliant all-round displays that propelled his team to the semi-finals. Jacks consistently delivered critical performances for England, highlighted by an unbeaten 32 off 18 balls and two wickets for 23 runs against New Zealand, which earned him one of his four Player of the Match awards. Spin wizard Adil Rashid joins him, having taken 13 wickets at an average of 14.15.
Jason Holder of the West Indies secures his place through strong all-round contributions. Holder took three wickets against Scotland and four against Nepal, before stepping up with crucial batting performances in the Super Eights.
Completing the primary XI is Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, whose pivotal role was instrumental in his side’s stunning group stage success. Muzarabani notably took four wickets for 17 runs as Zimbabwe defeated Australia and concluded the group stage with a total of nine wickets.
The team’s 12th player is Shadley van Schalkwyk, who impressed for the USA by taking 13 wickets at an excellent rate of 6.84 and an economy of 6.80.
Selection Panel:
- Ian Bishop
- Natalie Germanos
- Eoin Morgan (Broadcasters)
- Gaurav Saxena (ICC Representative)
- Rex Clementine (Sports Journalist)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament:
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper)
- Ishan Kishan
- Aiden Markram (captain)
- Hardik Pandya
- Will Jacks
- Jason Holder
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Lungi Ngidi
- Adil Rashid
- Blessing Muzarabani
12th player: Shadley van Schalkwyk
