Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Former West Indies pacer says India’s experience, depth and bowling strength make them strong contenders
Former West Indies fast bowler and respected cricket analyst Ian Bishop has backed defending champions India to successfully handle the pressure of retaining their Men’s T20 World Cup title at home during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026, which begins on Saturday. Bishop believes that expectations will not derail India’s campaign, given their experience, squad depth and familiarity with high-pressure situations.
India enter the tournament as the top-ranked T20I side, having recently registered a dominant 4-1 series win over New Zealand. Since lifting the T20 World Cup in 2024, India boast the best win percentage (84.6%) among the top ten international teams, underlining their consistency and form. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the team is aiming to defend its title, secure a third Men’s T20 World Cup trophy, and potentially become the first side to win a final at home in the history of the tournament.
Addressing concerns about pressure, Bishop pointed to India’s past successes. He recalled India’s historic ODI World Cup win at home in 2011 and their appearance in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. According to Bishop, modern team management plays a major role in shielding players from excessive pressure, and India are among the teams that do this effectively. He highlighted that many Indian players are well accustomed to expectations, having regularly featured in the IPL and high-stakes finals.
Bishop also identified key players who could play decisive roles for India, including Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy. He stressed that while many teams possess explosive batting line-ups, bowling depth could be the key differentiator in the tournament. In his view, India’s ability to separate themselves through disciplined and varied bowling will be crucial, especially against power-hitting sides like West Indies, South Africa and Australia.
On selection dilemmas, Bishop said Ishan Kishan’s strong form has created a “good headache” for the team management, potentially challenging Sanju Samson for the opening slot. He added that form should be prioritised in T20 cricket. Regarding Harshit Rana’s knee injury, Bishop expressed confidence in India’s medical and support staff, while reiterating that bilateral series performances should not be over-analysed as players peak for ICC events.
India will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the USA on Saturday at 7:00 PM, with the match to be broadcast live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.