T20 World Cup predictions: Zimbabwe to shock Australia? USA to stun Netherlands?

We have some big predictions for day seven at the T20 World Cup.

Look forward to some interesting clashes at the 2026 tournament.

Read on for more insight into the action in India and Sri Lanka.

Australia v Zimbabwe

Key talking points

Australia

Australia entered the tournament on Wednesday with a resounding win over Ireland that went a long way towards dispelling suggestions that they were too old and out of form ti go all the way in 2026.

They may be without Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins (and skipper Mitch Marsh also missed out on Wednesday with a testicular injury), but they more than enough in the tank to cruise past Ireland.

The message from the Baggy Green camp is a simple one – just because the names are not as big as they were back in the day doesn’t mean they don’t have what it takes to go all the way.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe have been around the block many times, having first played at a major ICC tournament back in 1983.

And while this is not a team that is expected to go all the way in the tournament, they still have it in them to cause a few upsets.

They looked superb in their opening fixture against Oman, and while critics will point out that Oman are not particularly strong opposition, the way Zimbabwe tore into them with the ball took care of business with the bat was very impressive.

Powered by two giant quicks and a mix of experienced and talented batters and lead by the experienced Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe will be eyeing an upset against Australia and hoping looking to find a way to advance to the Super Eights.

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Less than 48 hours on from their opening win over Ireland, Australia are back at the Premadasa Stadium for this clash against Zimbabwe.

The Baggy Greens have won eight of the ten games they have played at the ground. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have played there three times, winning once and losing twice.

Friday’s game will be the 51st T20I to be played at the ground.

From the 50 games played at the ground, the side that chased has won 28 times while the side that batted first has won 21.

The average first innings score at the venue is 142.

The highest score recorded at the stadium was Bangladesh’s 215 for five from 19.4 overs made against Sri Lanka in 2018. This is also the highest successful chase at the ground.

The lowest score made at the ground was Afghanistan’s 80 all out, scored against England in 2012.

The lowest score successfully defended at the ground was South Africa’s 115 for six, made against Sri Lanka in 2013.

Weather

It is going to be very hot and sticky in Colombo around noon on Friday with a very good chance of play being interrupted by storms.

The forecast suggests hot and humid conditions with temperatures peaking near 33 degrees.

While the morning may offer some sun, isolated thunderstorms or passing showers are likely to have developed by midday. Humidity will be high at approximately 78 percent.

Form

• Australia: W, L, L, L, NR
• Zimbabwe: W, L, L, W, L

Key players

Travis Head

In the absence of Mitch Marsh in the game against Ireland, it was Head who stepped in to assume the leadership. He didn’t offer much with the bat, but it is no secret what he is able to do.

It looks unlikely that Marsh will be back in time for Friday’s encounter and while Steve Smith has been summoned as cover, it is unlikely that he will be ready to play in time.

It all means that a lot of responsibility falls onto Head as the senior batsman in the mix. As he showed during the recent Ashes, he loves a bit of added pressure. Expect him to throw caution to the wind on Friday.

Brian Bennett

The youngster has been garnering plenty of attention for his excellent displays at the top of the Zimbabwean order. Still just 22-years-old Bennett scored an undefeated 48 in the opening game against Oman.

He was in excellent form on home soil as he scored three half-centuries and a hundred to clinch Zimbabwe’s place in the tournament.

And he was also amongst the runs with some good knocks in a tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in November. Brimming with confidence he pulled off a contender for catch of the tournament in the opening game.

Prediction: Australia

As much as we would love to tip Zimbabwe to cause an upset, it is these types of potential banana skin games that Australia have made such a habit of winning.

The Baggy Greens are very good at doing whatever’s necessary to get the job done.

They won’t take Zimbabwe lightly, they will be well prepared, and they will attack their opponents from the outset doing their very best to impose themselves. Expect Australia to take it with relative ease.

Read next: Why the T20 World Cup is Harry Brook’s golden chance to salvage his reputation

Canada v United Arab Emirates

Key talking points

Canada

Canada were comfortably swept aside by South Africa in their tournament opener on Monday, and while they certainly didn’t embarrass themselves, they will know that Friday is going to be their best chance to claim a win in the competition.

Canada are a solid unit who qualified for the World Cup onf the back of a run that saw them win six games out of six.

But that was qualifying and this is the real deal – ranked 19th in the world they are two spots behind the UAE, which means this should be a closely fought encounter.

UAE

The UAE opened their WC campaign against New Zealand.

They won the toss, elected to bat and looked like they were set to cause an extraordinary upset as they recovered from the early loss of Aryansh Sharma to advance to 119 for one before they lost their second wicket.

A score of 173 for six looked like it could cause some problems, but that didn’t turn out to be the case as the UAE bowling proved to have fewer teeth than its batting.

New Zealand cantered to a 10-wicket win, but there were positives for the UAE to find in their batting display which will fill them with confidence ahead of the Canada clash.

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Neither Canada nor the UAE have ever played T20I cricket at the venue.

Friday’s game will be just the 11th T20I to be played at the ground.

This is a venue where sides like to chase. Of the eight previous games played at the ground the side that won the toss opted to chase seven times (at the time of writing the tenth game at the ground was still to be played).

The average first innings score at the venue is 145.

The highest score made at the ground was India’s 221 for nine from 20 overs made against Bangladesh in 2024.

The lowest score recorded at the venue was Sri Lanka’s 120 all out made against South Africa in 2016.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was South Africa’s 212 for three from 19.1 overs, made against India in 2022.

Weather

Delhi will transition from a warm, bright afternoon to a crisp and clear evening on Friday with conditions looking good for cricket. Afternoon temperatures are expected to reach a high of 26 degrees under mainly clear skies.

Once the sun sets temperatures will drop steadily to about 20 degrees. There will be a light wind and no rain.

Form

1. Canada: L, W, W, W, W
2. UAE: L, L, L, L, W

Key players

Navneet Dhaliwal

Canada struggled against a powerful South African attack in their opening game, but one man looked completely at home as he took the fight to the Proteas’ quicks.

Navneet Dhaliwal was the standout performer for Canada hitting a brisk 64 from 49 balls to end as the games’ highest scorer.

With a highest T20I score of 70* and an average of 33.18, Dhaliwal is Canada’s batting star – he was the first Canadian to score a half century at a World Cup when he did so in 2024 against the USA, and he bagged another against South Africa.

He will be looking for more against UAE.

Muhammad Waseem

Waseem looked like the real deal against New Zealand as he stroked 66 from 45 balls against an attack that included Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and the best that New Zealand had to offer.

The skipper who prides himself on being setting the level for his team has played 94 T20Is.

While many of his outings have been against smaller teams not all of them have been and he has learned a few tricks along the way in playing franchise cricket alongside some top-class international stars.

With an average of 37.52 and a strike rate of 150.70 he is a quality performer.

Prediction: UAE

This will be a close game, but the UAE should edge it.

Their franchise league, the ILT sees their players exposed to bigger names, headier atmospheres and greater quality and that should give them the edge of Canada in the battle to avoid Group D’s wooden spoon.

Netherlands v USA

Key talking points

Netherlands

It has been a good tournament for the Dutch thus far.

They pushed Pakistan hard in their opener, losing by three runs with three balls to spare and they saw off Namibia with a minimum amount of fuss.

A win over the USA will leave them in a strong position, with pressure firmly applied to the two top seeds in the Group.

As much as the Dutch are still considered minnows, they have been around for a long time and have claimed some excellent scalps in their time.

They are canny operators with experience who will come into Friday’s game full of confidence.

USA

The USA head into Friday’s encounter knowing that only a win will be good enough for the continued survival in the tournament – and even then, it is only an outside chance.

Having lost their opening games to Pakistan and India, the USA need to beat Netherlands and Namibia and hope that whichever side loses the Asian derby between India and Pakistan is then upset by one of the other smaller teams.

It is a big ask for the USA, but if they are to keep that flicker of hope alive, a win on Friday is non-negotiable.

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Neither the Netherlands not the USA have ever played a game at the venue before.

Friday’s game will be just the 6th T20I to be played at the ground.

There appears to be an advantage to chasing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with four of the five games played here won by the side batting second.

The average first innings score at the ground is 156.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was New Zealand’s 183 for five made against Afghanistan earlier in this tournament.

It was also the highest score made at the venue and the highest ever score chased down by New Zealand at a T20 World Cup

Statistics generated at the World Cup show that the wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has offered the least to spinners of any of the grounds being used.

Thus far the average deviation for spinners on the Chennai has been a fraction over one degree.

Weather

Friday night in Chennai is expected to be pleasant, dry and comfortably warm. Temperatures will dip to a low of approximately 22 degrees under partly cloudy or clear skies.

Form

• Netherlands: W, L, NR, L, L
• USA: L, L, W, W, L

Key players

Bas de Leede

The sun of Dutch cricket’s original star, Tim De Leede, Bas is rapidly showing himself to be his father’s equal. After two games he is the sixth highest scorer in the tournament with 102 runs (and an average of 102).

That average is obviously aided by a not out, but it is still a great return for the 47-cap international.

Coming in at number three De Leede has plenty of time to influence proceedings and build an innings and he will fancy the chance of scoring more runs against the USA as his team go looking for a second consecutive win on Friday.

USA

You don’t end up as the leading wicket taker in a World Cup by accident and heading into Friday’s encounter that is exactly where the Cape Town-born quick is.

With eight wickets from two games at an average of 6.25 Van Schalkwyk is having the time of his life and he will be licking his lips in anticipation of more scalps on Friday.

Prediction: Netherlands

The USA have done well in the competition thus far, but the Netherlands have done better.

The Netherlands are ranked 13th in the world, and their greater experience should ultimately be the difference between two sides who are improving with every outing on the biggest stage.

Read next: Revealed – The 9 best T20 World Cup batters of all time

The post T20 World Cup predictions: Zimbabwe to shock Australia? USA to stun Netherlands? appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/2lmVfYu

T20 World Cup predictions: Namibia to shock India? Nepal to outdo Italy?

Tuck into these helpful predictions for day six at the T20 World Cup.

There is plenty of action on the go in India and Sri Lanka.

Read on for more insight.

Sri Lanka v Oman

Key talking points

Sri Lanka

The tournament co-hosts got their campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a 20-run win over Ireland.

But they will be far from satisfied with their tepid performance that could have gone horribly awry if Ireland had not spilled a total of six catches.

Those let-offs made life a whole lot easier for Sri Lanka who never really got going quite like they would have wanted to.

Oman

Ranked 20th in the world Oman looked badly out of their depth and outgunned in their opener against Zimbabwe.

There is a stereotype which suggests Asian sides are uncomfortable against short, quick bowling and Oman certainly conformed to that as Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava ripped through their top order to leave them 27 for five.

But it wasn’t just the quick stuff that troubled Oman as Sikandar Raza also made life difficult for them.

It may well be that it was a case of first game jitters, but Oman will have to be a whole lot better and braver if they hope to take anything from this tournament – based on their opening game performance it won’t be against Sri Lanka.

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

This is the first game of the tournament to be held at Pallekele Stadium. Most recently it was the site of Sri Lanka’s 3-0 series reverse at the hands of England, with each of the three games in that series played at the ground.

Sri Lanka’s record at the ground is not particularly impressive; they have won ten of the 24 games they have played at the venue. Oman have never played a game at the venue.

Sri Lanka have been involved in two ties at the ground.

The average first innings score at the venue is 167.

The highest score made at the venue was Australia’s 263 for three scored against Sri Lanka in 2016. It was a game that saw Glenn Maxwell slam a massive 145 from 65 balls.

The highest score chased at the ground was Pakistan’s 178 for two made against Bangladesh in 2012.

The lowest score successfully defended was India‘s 137 for nine made against Sri Lanka in 2024.

The lowest score made at the ground was New Zealand’s 88 all out against Sri Lanka in 2019.

The Pallekele Stadium is set to host seven matches during the upcoming T20 World Cup including a marquee game between Sri Lanka and Australia.

Weather

Kandy is forecast to be warm on Thursday with temperatures peaking around 29 degrees during lunch time.

While mornings may start with sunny intervals, clouds will likely build up by midday, bringing a high chance of thunder showers.

Humidity will be moderate to high, so expect a tropical, muggy feel before any rain provides a brief cooling effect. Play may well be affected by showers.

Form

• Sri Lanka: W, L, L, L, W
• Oman: L, W, W, L, W

Key players

Maheesh Theekshana

Offspinner Theekshana had an excellent game against Ireland, returning figures of three for 23 from his four overs.

He is Sri Lanka’s highest ranked bowler, coming in at sixth on the ICC list, but critically his role in the team has suddenly become more important following the tournament-ending injury to Wanindu Hasaranga.

Hasaranga, who was ranked just slightly behind Theekshana, has gone home and will play no further part in the competition.

While Theekshana is a wicket taker, his biggest asset is his ability to contain opponents and build pressure – he boasts an impressive economy rate of 7.03.

Vinayak Shukla

There weren’t many positives to find from Oman’s loss to Zimbabwe, but the performance of Vinayak Shukla in the middle order was undoubtedly one.

The wicketkeeper showed bravery and aggression as he did his best to make a go of the chase having come to the wicket with his team in dire straits at 27 for five.

Shukla managed 28 runs from 21 balls, and he later added a catch behind the stumps for good measure. His highest T20I cricket score is just 52* but he averages a more than useful 31.21 from 19 innings with a strike rate of 140.06.

Prediction: Sri Lanka

It must be Sri Lanka, surely.

Oman struggled against the height, pace and bounce that the Zimbabwean bowlers brought in their opening game, and they may well find it more comfortable against Sri Lanka, but that won’t be enough to change an L into a W.

Sri Lanka have both the experience and the home ground advantage and at 20th in the world, it is hard to see how Oman will be able to beat Sri Lanka.

Also read: 8 of the strangest cricket injuries

Italy v Nepal

Key talking points

Italy

Veteran skipper Wayne Madsen has not been replaced yet, but after dislocating his shoulder in the field in the opening loss against Scotland, he looks unlikely to feature.

At 42 years old Madsen is past his prime but he is still a wily campaigner whose presence will be missed. Italy are the lowest ranked side in the tournament but Madsen aside they boast a number of experienced players in their squad, and they will be desperately targeting Thursday’s game for a landmark win.

Nepal

Nepal’s opening game performance against England was almost one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.

Regardless of what happens to then in the rest of the tournament they will know that they gave one of the top sides in the world a genuine scare.

It is hard to know if Nepal will be able to replicate the level of performance again, but they have certainly the benchmark.

Well coached by former Australian international Stuart Law Nepal will know that their best chance of a win at the tournament will be against Italy.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Italy have never played at the Wankhede Stadium before while for Nepal this will be there second game there following the defeat to England on Sunday.

Thursday’s game will be the fourth game of the tournament to be played at the Wankhede Stadium.

In eight of the ten previous T20Is played at the Wankhede Stadium, the team that has won the toss has elected to field first.

The average first innings score at the ground is 178.

The highest ever score made at the score was India’s massive 247 for nine, scored against England in 2025.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was England’s 230 for eight from 19.4 overs against South Africa in 2016.

Weather

On Thursday Mumbai will experience warm and mostly sunny weather. Afternoon temperatures are expected to peak at 32 degrees, accompanied by a light north-westerly breeze.

As the evening approaches, conditions will remain pleasant and dry, with temperatures dipping to a comfortable 24 degrees under clear to partly cloudy skies.

Form

• Italy: L, W, L, L, L
• Nepal: L, W, W, W, W

Key players

Ben Manenti

Australian born and raised Manenti and his brother qualified to play for Italy through their grandparents. A more than handy allrounder Manenti has useful experience playing in the BBL.

He scored a fighting 52 from 31 in the loss to Scotland and, perhaps most importantly, he looked comfortable at the crease with all the experience of 42 BBL appearances shining through nicely.

Dipendra Singh Airee

Nepal were superb in their opening game against England and at the forefront of almost everything good that they did was the largely unknown Dipendra Singh Airee.

A powerful middle order batsman he hit 44 runs from 29 balls and weighed in with a couple of wickets as well. Airee boasts an excellent T20I average of 32.25 and a strike rate of 139.37.

He is in good form at the moment and will come into Friday’s game on the back of a run of scores of 44, 9* and 50*.

Prediction: Italy

This should be a great game, with both teams fully believing they can win. Nepal were outstanding in their opening game loss to England, pushing their highly fancied opponents all the way.

Italy, meanwhile, would have been sorely disappointed with the way they played in going down to Scotland.

The Azurri may be the lowest ranked side at the tournament, and the availability of veteran skipper Wayne Madsen is touch-and-go, but they will be determined to up their levels after their opening game loss.

The Italians boast several players with BBL and SA20 experience and are a good bet to upset the rankings and bag a win in their first ever visit to a T20 World Cup.

India v Namibia

Key talking points

India

If ever a game had the potential to produce records, this is it. Not to do Namibia a disservice, but they are simply not in the same league as India – and to be fair, not many teams are.

India’s biggest worry will be that they let their standards drop in the search for records and personal glory. They need to treat this game like any other, trust their systems and processes and let the results follow.

With the key game against Pakistan coming up later in the week, this is an opportunity for India to keep their focus and intensity high and to build confidence.

Namibia

Namibia are the 15th ranked side in the world which means this is a free shot for them.

Nobody expects anything from the unfashionable Africa side but in a game that will be watched by billions this is the type of game where reputations can be made and potentially lives changed.

A standout performance from one of Namibia’s players could translate into an IPL deal. The joy of being an underdog is that you have nothing to lose, Namibia know this.

They will be seeking to channel the spirit of the 2025 win over South Africa, and they will be hoping that coaching consultant Gary Kirsten still has some inside knowledge on the Indian players and as their national coach.

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Formerly known as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium this venue is the second oldest in India. In IPL cricket it is the home ground of the Delhi Daredevils.

Namibia’s opening game loss against the Netherlands was their first and only game at the venue. India meanwhile have won two of their four games at the venue.

Thursday’s game will be just the tenth T20I to be played at the venue.

This is a venue where sides like to chase. Of the eight previous games played at the ground the side that won the toss opted to chase seven times.

The average first innings score at the venue is 145.

The highest score made at the ground was India’s 221 for nine from 20 overs made against Bangladesh in 2024.

The lowest score recorded at the venue was Sri Lanka’s 120 all out made against South Africa in 2016.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was South Africa’s 212 for three from 19.1 overs, made against India in 2022.

Weather

Delhi will be cool and dry on Thursday night. Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of approximately 12 degrees.

While the sky may be mostly clear, there are suggestions of increasing cloudiness or mist as the evening progresses into night. Winds will be light contributing to a calm but chilly atmosphere.

Form

• India: W, W, L, W, W
• Namibia: L, W, L, W, W

Key players

Suryakumar Yadav

‘Sky’ as he is known, endured a terrible run of form in 2025, but he rediscovered his magic touch in the pre-tournament series against New Zealand and has been sublime ever since.

He heads into Thursday’s game on the back of a run of scores of 84*, 30, 63, 8 and 57*.

That is some impressive recent form, and he has climbed to sixth in the world rankings on the back of it.

To illustrate how strong India are, Suryakumar may be the sixth best batsman in the world, but he is only the third highest ranked in his team.

He is the form man though and he will be looking to continue his outstanding run against Namibia.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton

A confident allrounder, Loftie-Eaton top scored for Namibia in their opening game against Scotland with a useful 42 from 38 balls.

He was out just when it looked like he was getting going, but he showed that he is a more than useful player who can also contribute with the ball.

Coming in at number three he has one T20I century to his credit, he averages a modest 21.15 per innings with a useful strike rate of 136.59

Prediction: India

Namibia have what it takes to cause some of the bigger teams in this tournament some trouble – they beat South Africa in 2025 – but beating the best team in the world on their home turf is a bridge too far.

Expect Namibia to fight manfully but to ultimately be well beaten. India may look to mix their team up and give some of the more peripheral players a run, but even so, they will win at a canter.

Read next: Why the T20 World Cup is Harry Brook’s golden chance to salvage his reputation

The post T20 World Cup predictions: Namibia to shock India? Nepal to outdo Italy? appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/w5CmTtG

Four times India and Pakistan’s cricket rivalry was at its most intense

With Pakistan’s government lifting the ban on their team facing India, it now looks like the scheduled T20 encounter, set to take place on Friday, will go ahead as intended. That is great news for cricket and for neutral fans of the game.

Undoubtedly the match will generate massive interest and a huge television audience. As is always the case when these two bitter rivals face each other, there is so much more than just cricket on the line.

In total, India and Pakistan have faced each other 16 times in T20 cricket. Thirteen of those games have been at neutral venues and none of those games have been in Pakistan.

Three times they have faced each other in India, with Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Kolkata each hosting a game.

The concern for Pakistan will be their record against their big rivals – they have avoided defeat in just four of the 16 games against India. Let’s take a moment to remember the four occasions when Pakistan managed to hold their nerve.

1. Durban, 2007: Match tied

The inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa saw Pakistan and India lock horns at Durban. This was the first time the two rivals had ever met in a T20 game, and it was played in Durban, a city that boasts the largest concentration of Indian people outside of India.

The match ended in a dramatic tie, leaving both sides with memories of a pulsating contest. India batted first and scored a solid 141 for nine with Robin Uthappa top scoring with 50 from 39 balls.

Pakistan’s chase started badly but Misbah-ul-Haq, batting at six scored 53 before being run out from the last ball of the game as he looked to complete the winning run.

There were no super overs back in 2007, so the game ended tied, leaving some of the big names of the past, including Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh to share the spoils.

Also read: Why Pakistan refused to play India

2. Bengaluru, 2012: Pakistan win by five wickets with two balls remaining

Pakistan toured India in 2012 for a series that included two T20Is and three ODIs. It was a good trip for Pakistan who won the ODI series 2-1 and drew the T20 series. The Bengaluru win came in the first game of the tour which was played on Christmas day on a tricky track.

The Bengaluru surface was good once batsmen were set, but it proved tricky to get going with only two batsmen from each side making it past ten runs.

For India, who lost the toss and were asked to bat first, it was openers Gautam Gambhir (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (42) who got going. For Pakistan it was Mohammad Hafeez (61) and Shoaib Malik (57) who got going, steering their team to victory with two balls to spare.

3. Dubai, 2021: Pakistan win by 10 wickets with 13 balls remaining

The T20 World Cup fixture in Dubai saw Pakistan deliver one of their most emphatic victories over India.

Facing a powerful Indian side that included stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant the Pakistan bowlers did well to restrict their rivals to a score of 151 for seven with Shaheen Shah Afridi doing the bulk of the damage with figures of three for 31.

But it wasn’t the bowling that won this game for Pakistan, it was two of their finest cricketers of the last decade who opened the batting that did the job.

In 2021 Babar Azam was at the height of his powers with Mohammad Rizwan not far behind. The duo was imperious as they returned scores of 68* and 79* respectively, cantering to a famous victory without ever being in serious trouble.

4. Dubai, 2022: Pakistan win by five wickets with one ball remaining

A year later, the teams met again in Dubai in what was a much more tightly contested Asia Cup encounter. As has been the case with each of their wins over India, Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first.

Virat Kohli was in good form as he stroked his way to 60 from 44 balls before being run out. India posted a useful total of 181 for seven.

It may have felt like déjà vu for India as Rizwan and Azam opened the batting and took the score to 22 in the fourth over. This time however Babar Azam was dismissed and suddenly India had a way into the game.

But Rizwan stood firm, posting a score of 71 from 51 balls as he shared stands with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz for the second and third wickets.

Riwan fell before the job was done, but he had broken the back of the chase leaving Iftikhar Ahmed to scramble a quick two (the second taken as the fielder slipped) to long-on to secure the win with just one ball left to be bowled.

Read next: Revealed – The 9 best T20 World Cup batters of all time

The post Four times India and Pakistan’s cricket rivalry was at its most intense appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/TQGu35C

England in danger of World Cup exit after West Indies’ spin masterclass

England in danger of World Cup exit after West Indies’ spin masterclass

from Cricket https://ift.tt/iynjbPZ

Ranked: 9 countries at the T20 World Cup with the best six-per-ball ratio

The T20 World Cup, which is set to start on Saturday is being keenly anticipated, as the best hitters from around the world come together on the batting friendly tracks of India and Sri Lanka.

Long gone are the days where a few sixes at tail end of an innings were the most that could be expected. Now, many of the top batsmen hit sixes more often than they hit fours. It positively rains sixes in the modern game. But which side clears the ropes most frequently?

Let’s take a look at each squad and tally the number of sixes hit by their players since October 2023 and work out the average number of balls faced per six. It makes for astounding reading.

Please note this list includes only sixes hit in T20Is by players in the current World Cup squads.

1. India

• Sixes hit: 1081
• Balls per six: 10.99

India tops the list in efficiency, striking a six roughly every 11 balls – that’s a maximum more than every two overs. That is a remarkable figure for a side that blends orthodox technique with brutal power.

While big name stars of the past like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired the team is still studded with stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh give India depth from the top order to the lower middle.

Suryakumar in particular has redefined what is possible in T20 batting, capable of hitting sixes to any part of the ground without compromising strike rotation. The key for India is not just volume, but consistency.

They maintain pressure even after early wickets, and few sides can match their ability to sustain six-hitting across all 20 overs.

2. Australia

• Sixes hit: 872
• Balls per six: 11.72

Australia remains one of the most destructive sides in world cricket, even without some of the big names from the past like David Warner.

Blessed with stars like Travis Head and Mitch Marsh at the top of the order and the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Tim David in middle order, Australia are bursting with power.

Not always the most elegant, they are relentlessly aggressive. Maxwell alone can shift momentum in a handful of deliveries, and Australia’s philosophy remains simple: take the game deep, then launch.

3. West Indies

• Sixes hit: 1198
• Balls per six: 12.18

West Indies lead the list in total sixes, which feels entirely on brand. Stars like Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell may have retired.

But the current squad includes power-hitters like Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer who form a lineup built almost entirely around clearing the ropes.

The slightly lower efficiency compared to India reflects their higher-risk style, but when it works, it overwhelms opponents. No side in the tournament is more capable of turning a par score into a losing one in the space of two overs.

Also read: 8 of the strangest cricket injuries

4. South Africa

• Sixes hit: 915
• Balls per six: 13.54

South Africa have quietly become one of the most powerful white-ball teams in the world. Quinton de Kock’s resurgence, combined with Aiden Markram, David Miller and the rise of Dewald Brevis, gives them six-hitting threats throughout the top six.

Brevis, in particular, has emerged as one of the most feared spin hitters in the game, comfortably filling the void created by the retirement of Heinrich Klaasen. South Africa may not match the sheer chaos of West Indies, but their power is more structured and often more reliable.

5. New Zealand

• Sixes hit: 770
• Balls per six: 14.39

New Zealand’s numbers reflect their more conservative batting identity. They are not short of power, with Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert capable of clearing any boundary, but they prioritise match control over sustained violence.

Their six-hitting tends to come in bursts rather than waves. This can make them dangerous in tight chases, but vulnerable if required to set imposing totals.

6. England

• Sixes hit: 909
• Balls per six: 14.81

England’s ranking is slightly deceptive. On paper, they possess as much firepower as anyone, with Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt and Harry Brook.

However, inconsistency has plagued them over the past year. When England click, they look unstoppable. When they do not, they struggle to maintain pressure. Their six rate suggests raw potential rather than sustained dominance.

7. Afghanistan

• Sixes hit: 781
• Balls per six: 15.38

Afghanistan’s rise as a batting force is one of the most striking developments in T20 cricket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provide strong foundations, while Mohammad Nabi remains one of the cleanest strikers of spin in the world.

Their six-hitting is more calculated, often targeting specific bowlers rather than launching indiscriminately. On Asian pitches, this method could prove extremely effective.

8. Pakistan

• Sixes hit: 771
• Balls per six: 16.50

Pakistan’s numbers reflect a team still searching for balance and a team whose home games are often played on pitches that are not conducive to stroke-play.

Babar Azam remains a key figure in the middle order but these tends he tends to anchor the batting rather than flay the bowling. That leaves players like Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman to supply the power.

Pakistan often builds slowly and relies on late acceleration, which limits their overall six count. Their approach is less about sustained dominance and more about timing the surge correctly.

9. Sri Lanka

• Sixes hit: 482
• Balls per six: 17.78

Sri Lanka sit well adrift of the pack. Their batting has leaned heavily towards accumulation rather than intimidation, with limited genuine power hitters.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis offer fluency, but few players consistently clear the ropes. On home surfaces, they may benefit from familiarity, but in a tournament increasingly defined by boundary hitting, Sri Lanka are currently at risk being left behind.

Read next: Why the T20 World Cup is Harry Brook’s golden chance to salvage his reputation

The post Ranked: 9 countries at the T20 World Cup with the best six-per-ball ratio appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/7gk9hT2

Where is the first upset of the 2026 T20 World Cup going to come from?

With the T20 World Cup starting on Saturday there are plenty of permutations to be worked through in the next month as the 20 sides work their way to the final.

With four pools of five teams, the top two sides from each pool will advance to the Super Eights before the top two sides from each Super Eight pool face each other in the semis for a chance to play in the final.

Let’s take a moment to gaze into our crystal ball and predict which teams will fall by the wayside and which will go all the way.

Looking for upsets

T20 cricket lends itself to upsets and if one thing is certain ahead of the tenth staging of the T20 World Cup, it is that there will be some upsets.

During the previous staging of the tournament there was a win for the USA over Pakistan while Afghanistan beat both New Zealand and Sri Lanka to go all the way to the semis. Where are the upsets likely to come from this time?

Sri Lanka look vulnerable – Sri Lanka are a good team, but they come into the tournament on the back of a 3-0 series thrashing at the hands of England.

They are also set to play several of their games at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium where they have a poor record of just eight wins from 32 games.

In a pool that includes one of the tournament favourites in the shape of Australia, Sri Lanka will be vying with Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman for a spot in the Super Eights.

Oman looks the least likely to cause an upset, but on their day, you can’t help but think any of those sides could get one over the hosts.

Afghanistan is poised to cause trouble – Rashid Khan’s side are in Pool D alongside New Zealand and South Africa.

While the Black Caps and the Proteas are the favourites to go through, Afghanistan are playing in Asian conditions that they will enjoy, and they have a lot of experience and talent in their squad.

In 2024 they made it all the way to the semis and in Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Fazalhaq Farooqi they boasted players who finished at the top of the run scoring and wicket takers lists.

Pakistan – While they should be okay, Pakistan have put themselves under big pressure by forfeiting their game against India.

That means they can’t really afford to lose to any of the other sides in Pool A. While they should be good enough to advance to the next round, Pakistan are a notoriously brittle side and one of Netherlands or USA could take them.

Also read: 8 of the strangest cricket injuries

Super Eights

It is fair to say that India is a banker to advance to the Super Eights. England should also move through comfortably from Group C, with the West Indies likely to join them.

With Bangladesh out of the tournament Group C lacks depth and it is hard to see Nepal, Italy or Scotland advancing.

Pakistan should secure their passage to the Super Sixes, although on some levels the organizers will be hoping that they don’t.

While Pakistan won’t be drawn to face India in the Super Eights, if they advance to the semis there is a very real prospect that they could end up against India again (or even worse they end up scheduled to meet them in the final).

Pakistan will not play India so a semi or the final could end up as a non-event with India granted a walkover victory.

Australia will be without both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood, but they should still advance from the Pool stages.

Their form in the warm-up series against Pakistan was poor, but it is hard to see a situation where they fail to go through to the Super Eights. Expect them to be joined by South Africa and Afghanistan from Pool D with Sri Lanka avoiding the upset to join Australia from Group B.

If those are the teams that come through to the Super Eights then this is where they would be assigned to play:

• Pool X: India, Australia, West Indies, South Africa
• Pool Y: England, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Who makes the semi-finals?

India and England look like the sure things to go through. West Indies are likely to drop out at this stage and with Australia struggling for form and without several key players, expect them to bow out here as well.

That leaves us looking to work out which is Asia’s second strongest T20I side after India? This is a bit of a lottery as realistically any of Afghanistan, Pakistan or Sri Lanka could do it. We are inclined to give it to Afghanistan, whose bowling department is very good.

It leaves us looking at India versus Afghanistan and England versus South Africa.

Final

Last time out the final was South Africa versus India, with the current hosts prevailing. But no host nation has ever won the T20 World Cup and no side has ever defended their title.

Could this be South Africa’s time to finally win a major ICC White Ball trophy. Can India go through the entire tournament without losing? It is hard to know, but we are predicting that India will win this one and become the first side to win the title back-to-back.

Read next: Why the T20 World Cup is Harry Brook’s golden chance to salvage his reputation

The post Where is the first upset of the 2026 T20 World Cup going to come from? appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/4QvTxZK

T20 World Cup predictions: West Indies to undo England? Ireland to stun Australia?

Day five of the ongoing T20 World Cup is in for a few intriguing fixtures.

There is plenty of action on the go in India and Sri Lanka.

Read on for our T20 World Cup predictions and previews.

Afghanistan v South Africa

Key talking points

Afghanistan

Last World Cup they made the semi-finals; now two years later they stand on the brink of elimination after just two games.

While a loss to South Africa won’t mathematically be the end of their campaign, it would make it very hard for Rashid Khan’s side to advance given that only two teams per pool move into the Super Eights.

Having lost their opener against New Zealand a second loss is an almost unrecoverable position, and it would require one of South Africa or the Kiwis to suffer a reverse at the hands of UAE or Canada (the smaller teams in the group).

South Africa

It may be early in the competition, but this is a must-win game for the Proteas. If they can see off Afghanistan, then the pressure is off for their encounter with New Zealand.

Aiden Markram’s men looked excellent against Canada as they posted the highest score of the tournament thus far and then bowled well to secure a 57-run win and give their run-rate a big boost.

It is a quick turnaround for the Proteas however, with less than 48 hours between the Canada clash and the meeting with Afghanistan.

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

South Africa have played two previous T20Is in Ahmedabad, a loss in 2025 and their opening win of the current tournament against Canada on Monday. Afghanistan have never made an appearance at the ground.

Wednesday’s game will be the tenth T20I to be held at the venue.

The side that won the toss has fielded first in eight of the nine games played at the ground.

The average first innings score at the ground is 170.

The highest score made at the ground was India’s 234 for four from 20 overs scored against New Zealand in 2023. The Kiwi’s reply to that score was the lowest ever total at the ground – they were dismissed for just 66 runs.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was India’s 166 for three from 17.5 overs, made against England in 2021.

Weather

Wednesday morning in Ahmedabad is expected to have clear, sunny skies with virtually no chance of rain. Temperatures will start at a refreshingly cool 17 degrees at sun rise and warm slowly.

A gentle breeze from the northeast is expected to blow, but, in short, it will be perfect conditions for cricket.

Form

• Afghanistan: L, L, W, W, W
• South Africa: W, L, W, W, L

Key players

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

So many of the top T20 teams have a power-hitting wicketkeeper at the top of the order. Players like Jos Buttler, Quinton de Kock, Tim Seifert and Ishan Kishan are some examples.

Gurbaz is Afghanistan’s equivalent and he can stand alongside any of the aforementioned players in terms of quality and ability on either side of the stumps.

He was the highest run scorer at the 2024 World Cup, his runs and aggression at the top of the order playing a major role in steering Afghanistan to the semis.

At 25.78 his average is perhaps not quite as high as he would want it to be, but he scores fast and he is in good form, coming into Wednesday’s game on the back of innings of 27, 43 and 71.

Ryan Rickelton

Dropped from the squad for the World Cup only to receive a late reprieve when Tony de Zorzi got injured, Rickelton has seemingly caught a wakeup call as a result.

That, coupled with a switch to number three has seen the dynamic left-hander recapture his best form. He scored 33 in the tournament opener and has been in excellent touch in recent games, averaging 69.66 from his last five innings.

With a strike rate of 143.68 Rickelton seems to have found his place at number three in the Proteas lineup where he can be his own man and not a Quinton de Kock clone.

Prediction: South Africa

This result is anything but a foregone conclusion as Afghanistan will be fighting for their lives. In 2024 Rashid Khan’s side made the semi-finals, so they have shown they have the quality and ability to go a long way in the competition.

But so too do South Africa who were the beaten finalists in 2024. It won’t be easy, but the Proteas should have enough depth and form to see off Afghanistan.

Also read: 5 exciting under-23 stars poised for breakout T20 World Cup campaigns

Australia v Ireland

Key talking points

Australia

Without a win in their last five games, on the surface of it, Australia appears to be wildly out of form. They may not be quite the force they were a decade ago, but Australia is still an impressive unit.

The trip to Pakistan ahead of the World Cup certainly didn’t pan out as the Baggy Greens would have hoped, but they will take confidence from the fact that World Cup wickets will offer more to the batters than they did in Lahore.

Mitch Marsh leads a side filled with IPL experience who will be desperate to return to winning ways and begin their tournament with a statement win.

Ireland

Ireland have faced Australia in T20Is twice previously and have never managed a win, but they will sense an opportunity against the current version of the Baggy Greens.

Having lost their tournament opener against Sri Lanka, Ireland know that they cannot afford another defeat.

Their batting and bowling were good in the 20-run defeat to Sri Lanka, but their fielding was poor, with six dropped catches meaning they let themselves down badly. If they can sharpen up in the field, they could cause an upset.

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Ireland have played at the ground three times and never won (one of the games ended with a No Result). Australia meanwhile have won seven of the nine games they have played at the ground.

Wednesday’s game will be the 50th T20I to be played at the ground.

From the 49 games played at the ground, the side that chased has won 28 times while the side that batted first has won 20.

The average first innings score at the venue is 142.

The highest score recorded at the stadium was Bangladesh’s 215 for five from 19.4 overs made against Sri Lanka in 2018. This is also the highest successful chase at the ground.

The lowest score made at the ground was Afghanistan’s 80 all out, scored against England in 2012.

The lowest score successfully defended at the ground was South Africa’s 115 for six, made against Sri Lanka in 2013.

Weather

Colombo is expected to be hot and humid with temperatures reaching a peak of 32 degrees. There is no chance of rain, and the sky will be largely cloudless.

High humidity levels may make it feel significantly warmer, with a “Real Feel” potentially in the high 30s. A light breeze from the north-northwest will provide minor relief.

Form

• Australia: L, L, L, NR, L
• Ireland: L, W, W, L, W

Key players

Travis Head

Dynamic opening batsman Travis Head loves to attack in the powerplays and he comes into the tournament with a very big reputation.

He struggled in Lahore (along with the rest of the team), but he was in blistering form during the Ashes in December and January where he thrilled with his aggression having been promoted to the top of the order.

Head’s T20I average is modest at just 28.36, but his strike-rate is impressive – hitting at 156.52 he boasts the 31st best strike-rate of all time.

George Dockrell

Australia showed they were vulnerable against good-quality spin when they fell apart in Pakistan and veteran left-armer George Dockrell will be hoping to exploit those frailties on Wednesday.

He looked good against Sri Lanaka in their opener claiming two for 17.

Ireland’s preparation hasn’t seen them play the most powerful sides around, but in warm-ups against Italy and UAE he kept the scalps coming with six wickets from his last four games.

Prediction: Australia

Australia are serial performers at major events and while they may be missing a number of key players, they are still a formidable outfit oozing confidence and swagger.

Yes, they struggled badly in their pre-tournament warm-up series in Pakistan, but the wickets they played on there were wild turners. They should be far more comfortable in Colombo, where the wicket will be more batsman friendly.

England v West Indies

Key talking points

England

England came perilously close to being on the wrong side of what would have been the biggest upset of all time, but they held their nerve to see off Nepal by four runs in their tournament opener.

They will want to look a lot sharper in their second outing on Wednesday where they will know that a win almost certainly guarantees them a spot in the Super Eights.

West Indies

The West Indies are a thrilling batting unit with a host of power-hitters capable of clearing the ropes and thrilling the crowds.

But they are struggling at the moment with their bowling, and while they did well to dismiss Scotland in their tournament opener, they only managed ten scalps in three games against the Proteas in the warm-up series in South Africa.

Their opening tournament game was against Scotland who fought bravely but who were ultimately overwhelmed – England will be much sterner opposition.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

England have won three and lost two of the four T20Is they have played at the Wankhede Stadium while the West Indies have won two of the three games they have played there.

Wednesday’s game will be the third game of the tournament to be played at the Wankhede Stadium – it was also the venue for England’s narrow win over Nepal.

In eight of the ten previous T20Is played at the Wankhede Stadium, the team that has won the toss has elected to field first. That wasn’t the case on Sunday when England won the toss and batted against Nepal.

The average first innings score at the ground is 178.

The highest ever score made at the score was India’s massive 247 for nine, scored against England in 2025.

The highest score successfully chased at the ground was England’s 230 for eight from 19.4 overs against South Africa in 2016.

Weather

It will be good conditions for cricket in Mumbai on Wednesday night with clear and pleasantly cool conditions.

After a warm day, temperatures will dip to an evening low of approximately 23 degrees. Expect clear skies with no chance of rain, accompanied by a light northerly breeze.

Form

• England: W, W, W, W, NR
• West Indies: W, W, L, L, W

Key players

Harry Brook

The England skipper fills the designated finisher role and comes in at five for his side. With the ability to improvise, Brook is highly adept at adjusting to play the situation in front of him.

He hit an excellent 53 runs from 32 ball in England’s opener, doing just enough to see his side to a defendable score.

Brook will hope that he arrives at the crease against the West Indies with his side in a more comfortable position than the three for 57 they were at when he started against Nepal.

His presence in the middle-order will provide assurance to the dynamic top order that they can afford to play shots and attack with Brook as the safety net behind them.

Shimron Hetmyer

In the West Indies’ opener against Scotland Romario Shepherd returned figures of five for 20 including a hattrick and he still missed out to Hetmyer for the Player of the Match award.

That wasn’t an error, Hetmyer was simply sensational with the bat hitting six maximums on his way to a score of 64 from 36 balls. Hetmyer was the standout performer from a West Indies top order who all made good starts.

Prediction: England

England were more than a little underwhelming in their tournament opener against Nepal where they scraped to a four-run win.

They will want to up their game against the West Indies and they should be able to. The West Indies are a mercurial outfit who on their day can do almost anything.

But England are not one of the favourites to win the tournament for nothing and they should have more than enough in the tank to see off a side who have struggled for wins in recent games.

Read next: Revealed – The 9 best T20 World Cup batters of all time

The post T20 World Cup predictions: West Indies to undo England? Ireland to stun Australia? appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/Kmo4JtI