Published on: Mar 10, 2026 4:22 pm IST|Updated on: Mar 10, 2026 4:22 pm IST
Team India completed a hat-trick of T20 World Cups on Sunday night after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In doing so, they became the first and only team to win the coveted cup thrice, the first team to defend their titles, and also the only host nation to win the cup at home. Following India’s clinical 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially revealed the “T20 World Cup 2026 Team of The Tournament.”
Selected by a prestigious panel—including West Indies legend Ian Bishop, former England captain Eoin Morgan, and South African commentator Natalie Germanos—the XI comprises the standout performers who played a vital role in shaping the tournament and had a memorable individual run as well. Unsurprisingly, the victorious Indian squad dominates the lineup with four key selections, reflecting their unbeaten and authoritative campaign on home soil.
The headline of the selection is the deserving Player of the Tournament, Sanju Samson. The 31-year-old’s journey was nothing short of a fairy tale; he began the World Cup outside the starting XI but transformed into India’s most vital asset during the knockout stages. He amassed 321 runs in just five matches at a remarkable average of 80.25 and a strike rate nearing 200. His back-to-back knocks of 89 in the semifinal against England and the final against New Zealand, the latter being the highest individual score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final, cemented his place as a global T20 star.
Joining him at the top of the order is Ishan Kishan, who himself made a scintillating return to the Indian T20I setup just ahead of the T20 World Cup and soon became one of the vital cogs in the batting unit. Kishan finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 317 runs at a strike rate of 193.29. His masterful 77 against Pakistan and a rapid 54 in the final showcased his ability to anchor an innings while maintaining a relentless scoring pace.
Hardik Pandya remains the quintessential all-rounder, earning his spot through impactful contributions with both bat and ball. Pandya scored 217 runs at a strike rate of over 160 and claimed nine wickets throughout the campaign. His blistering 50 off just 23 balls against Zimbabwe helped India post the tournament’s highest total of 256/4, while his crucial wickets in the group stage against Pakistan proved he is a man for the big occasion.
Leading the bowling department is the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah. The pace spearhead finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps from eight matches at an incredible economy of 6.21. Saving his best for the ultimate stage, Bumrah’s devastating spell of 4/15 in the final dismantled the New Zealand batting order and earned him the Player of the Match award.
While India provided the core, the Team of the Tournament features diverse talent from across the globe. South Africa’s Aiden Markram was appointed captain of this star-studded XI. Markram led the Proteas to the semi-finals undefeated with tactical brilliance and individual excellence, scoring 286 runs across 8 innings, including three half-centuries.
The opening slot alongside Samson is occupied by Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs. Farhan made history as the first batter to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup edition, achieving the feat against Sri Lanka and Namibia.
The middle order and bowling attack are rounded out by:
Here is the official team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Tags: T20 World Cup 2026