DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced its Team of the Tournament for the T20 World Cup 2026, with Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan among the standout performers named in the line-up.
The team was selected by a distinguished panel of experts, comprising West Indies great Ian Bishop, former England captain Eoin Morgan, coach-turned-commentator Natalie Germanos, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena and Sri Lankan sports journalist Rex Clementine.
Despite Pakistan’s inconsistent campaign, which ended in the Super Eight phase, opener Farhan was a model of consistency.
His remarkable tally of 383 runs in seven matches set a new record for most runs by a batsman in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
The 29-year-old also created history by becoming the first player to score two centuries in a T20 World Cup. His magnificent hundred against Sri Lanka in the final Super Eight match was the cornerstone of a crucial five-run victory for his team.
Sanju Samson was instrumental in India’s triumphant campaign and was deservedly named Player of the Tournament. Initially unable to break into the star-studded Indian starting XI, Samson grabbed his opportunity in spectacular fashion when it mattered most.
The right-hander began his run-scoring streak with an incredible, unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a virtual knockout clash in the Super Eight.
He maintained his sublime form with 89 against England in the semi-final and followed it up with another crucial 89 in the final against New Zealand.
In doing so, he became only the third batsman to record a half-century in both the semi-final and final of a T20 World Cup, and the second to achieve three consecutive scores of 80 or more in the history of the tournament.
Ishan Kishan made a powerful impact with his relentless aggression at the top of the order. His three half-centuries were outstanding contributions, but he also provided quick and vital knocks of 38 against Zimbabwe and 39 against England.
Their best performance, however, came against arch-rivals Pakistan. After India lost an early wicket while batting first, Kishan took charge with an impressive 77 in just 40 balls, an innings with ten fours and three sixes.
After spending two years on the sidelines, Kishan’s redemption arc was complete as he contributed a vital 54 and made two crucial catches in the final.
Aiden Markram led South Africa admirably in winning their first seven matches of the tournament. Opening the batting, he never shied away from responsibility, scoring three half-centuries.
He was particularly effective in Ahmedabad, reaching an unbeaten 86 points in a key group stage victory over New Zealand and another unbeaten 82 points against the West Indies in the Super Eights.
In the match against India, Markram also led with the ball, providing the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Kishan in his first over.
Although the Proteas fell short in the semi-final, Markram’s captaincy and his handling of a talented bowling attack was very impressive.
For several years now, Hardik Pandya has been instrumental in India’s success with his ability to change a game whether with the bat or the ball. He continued that rich vein of form in the World Cup, amassing 217 runs and claiming nine wickets.
Pandya scored two half-centuries, the second a whirlwind 50 off just 23 balls against Zimbabwe, taking India to 256 for 4 – the highest team total of the 2026 tournament and just four runs short of the all-time T20 World Cup record.
With the ball, his best figures of 2 for 16 came in three crucial overs against Pakistan. Opening the bowling, Pandya removed the opposition’s biggest threat Farhan for a duck and then bowled Usman Tariq to conclude the innings.
The tournament served as a defining moment for Will Jacks, who established himself as one of the show’s premier all-rounders.
Having moved down the order, Jacks perfected the role of finisher. His best score was an unbeaten 53 against Italy, but he also had a vital cameo against India and scored an unbeaten 32 against New Zealand to guide his team to an improbable victory in the final match of the Super Eight.
The offside also recorded a three-wicket haul in the Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka, delivering a convincing 51-run win. Jacks’ four Man of the Match awards tied him with Shane Watson for the most such honors in a T20 World Cup.
Jason Holder, a fearsome fast bowler and powerful lower order batsman, was one of the stars of the tournament.
His all-round prowess was on full display in the Super Eight clash against India, where he scored 2 for 38 and scored a crucial 37 off 22 balls, albeit in a losing cause against the co-hosts.
The 6’7″ pacer used his height to extract bounce from even the flattest of tracks and took on Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium. Holder claimed 4 for 27, removing three of the top five, to establish a dominant nine-wicket win.
While India’s batting line-up is formidable, it is Jasprit Bumrah who elevates the team above the rest. In the 2026 World Cup, he finished as the highest wicket-taker along with teammate Varun Chakaravarthy.
He saved the best for last, taking 4 for 15 in the final against New Zealand to win the Man of the Match award.
Beyond simply taking timely wickets, it is Bumrah’s ability to disrupt an opponent’s batting rhythm that sets him apart. His laser-guided precision and deadly yorkers turn his spells into pressure cooker moments.
During the semi-final against England, he took only one wicket, but his 18th over, in which he conceded just six runs, proved pivotal.
In a match that saw a total of 499 runs, Bumrah’s economy rate of 8.25 was the best from both sides and possibly the reason why England fell seven runs short.
Lungi Ngidi was one of the leading fast bowlers of the tournament. He started with impressive figures of 4 for 31 against Canada and added two more three-wicket hauls.
Against India, he may have gone wicketless, but his four-over spell, conceding just 15 runs, was crucial in helping South Africa contain India’s formidable batting line-up.
Ngidi used his experience, variations and slower balls to great effect on largely batsman-friendly pitches.
Adil Rashid is the only spinning specialist selected in the team. He shrewdly took advantage of the conditions, particularly in Sri Lanka, to help England win six of their first seven matches.
While his best figures were 3 for 36 against Scotland, Rashid played a pivotal role in the Super Eight victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand. After Sri Lanka restricted England to 146 for 9, the leg-spinner caused a collapse for the home team with figures of 2 for 13 in 3.4 overs.
Against India, he operated in damage control mode, claiming the key wickets of Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to finish with 2 for 41.
Muzarabani’s blessing was fundamental for the dream management of Zimbabwe. After missing out on the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe produced their best-ever performance and reached the Super Eights.
They announced their arrival with a 23-run victory over Australia, a match in which Muzarabani took magnificent figures of 4 for 17, bowling out the Australians for 146.
In the group stage, the pacer took nine wickets in just three matches and his team finished first in Group B.
Saurabh Netravalkar of the United States was arguably the best bowler in the group stage. Although the United States was unable to replicate its 2024 exploits and advance to the Super Eight, Netravalkar was in a league of its own.
It began with a four-wicket haul against India, leaving the co-hosts in trouble at 77 for 6 before they recovered. He followed it up with another brilliant performance, posting identical figures of 4 for 25 against Pakistan.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: Sahibzada Farhan, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Adil Rashid, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani.
12th man: Saurabh Netravalkar.
