1983 World Cup hero feels India won't win T20 World Cup 2026

While the Indian team is ready to start their journey in the Asia Cup 2025, a former Indian captain and one of the heroes of the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup, is unhappy with the team and feels that the Men in Blues can't defend the Men's T20 World Cup trophy in the upcoming edition. 

Suryakumar Yadav-led India are ready for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in T20I format, a preparation for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host in next year's February and March. Apart from co-hosting the next T20 World Cup, India will also defend the title, as they won the last T20 World Cup (2024) in West Indies and USA, which was their second T20 World Cup title after winning its inaugural edition in 2007. 

See Also: Why no Shreyas Iyer in Asia Cup 2025 squad?

There is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch: Krishnamachari Srikkanth

Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the highest run-scorer in India's victorious 1983 World Cup Final against West Indies, feels that India may win the upcoming Asia Cup, but they can't win the next T20 World Cup with this team.

Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, “We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?” 

While Indian Test captain and ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill has been included in the Asia Cup squad as a vice-captain, Srikkanth is unhappy with the vice-captaincy exclusion from the all-rounder Axar Patel. He is also unhappy with the selections of Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana.

Srikkanth questioned, “They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that.” 

Who will bat at No. 5? 

The former Indian captain has questioned the no.5 batting position, while he is also disappointed with the non-inclusion of the Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Srikkanth added, “Who will bat at No. 5? Five has to be either Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya usually bats at No. 5, so now, Axar cannot bat at six. I can’t understand how they picked Dube. Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed in international cricket and IPL as well. What does he do?”