India finished the group stage unbeaten, reinforcing their status as tournament favourites
Middle order and bowling unit stepped up despite top-order inconsistencies
Super 8s will test their balance, especially with the Abhishek Sharma question lingering
India’s league stage campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 has officially wrapped up, and it ended the way defending champions would have wanted. Four matches, four wins, top of the group. On paper, it reads like dominance.
On the field, it was a mix of some experimentation and timely course correction. The defending champions started their campaign with a win agianst USA, then beat arch-rivals Pakistan convincingly, dominated Namibia and handled Netherlands professionally. There are still some areas that have room for improvement but every time the contest threatened to tighten, someone stepped up.
Steady favourites despite a nervy start
India national cricket team arrived at the Super-8s having done exactly what was required: win the group while experimenting freely. However, there were few matches, which really tested the strength of Indian batting lineup, that suggested India weren’t firing on all cylinders from ball one. Still, comfortable wins and a final flourish against Netherlands kept them top of the heap and marked them as tournament favourites going into the next phase.
A nervy title defence, and an opener in question
The defence of the crown hasn’t been flawless. A worrying subplot was Abhishek Sharma’s string of ducks, an odd statistical blip for a batter who normally provides aggressive starts; headlines noted multiple consecutive scores of zero that raise selection questions if the slump continues. Yet India’s depth means a single wobble up top hasn’t derailed the plan.
Middle order firing when it mattered
When early wickets fell, it was the middle order that supplied the punches. Shivam Dube’s late blitz, a 66 off 31 against the Dutch, exemplified how the lower middle can change the game in 18-20 overs, while contributions from hard-hitting allrounders and experienced campaigners ensured India always had acceleration options. Those innings not only helped set defendable totals but also allowed the bowlers to attack with freedom.
Captain cool: composure, discipline and on-field leadership
Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership stood out for calmness and insisting the team keep its head in heated fixtures, notably the high-profile clash with Pakistan national cricket team where India produced a composed 61-run win. That measured approach has steadied the dressing room and helped navigate pressure moments.
Effectively an anchor, a crisis man, the skipper has also contributed with the bat: 162 runs at a strike rate of 136.13 in four innings, and he is India's second leading scorer, only behind an imperious Ishan Kishan (176).
Death of a rivalry? Not yet, but momentum matters
The Pakistan result was decisive, and it perhaps took the shine off this marquee fixture, but sporting rivalries live on. In nine T20 World Cup meetings, India have defeated Pakistan eight times. And the manner of India's wins has been emphatic enough to dampen the Pakistani camp, but a knockout meeting can re-ignite their spirits. Of course, the bitter rivals need to meet again.
Stats & unforgettable moments
Key numbers: Team high - 193 against the Netherlands; Standout individual performance - Ishan Kishan's 77 against Pakistan, Varun Chakravarthy's 3/14 in the Ahmedabad game against the Dutch, and, of course, clinical bowling performances that closed chases.
Memorable moments: Shivam Dube's game-changing slog against the Dutch and a few acrobatic catches that swung momentum; off-field, the unit's discipline and captain's messaging delivered headlines as much as their on-field feats.
What next
India march into the Super-8s as favourites but not invincible. They will be facing South Africa, Zimbabwe and West Indies. All these teams are in red-hot form and can put up a tough challenge for the Men in Blue in the upcoming and crucial fixtures.
