T20 cricket is often considered a contest between batters and bowlers, but captaincy also holds great importance in the format. On many occasions, captains have guided their teams to victory even from difficult situations. For this reason, leadership plays a very significant role in the shortest format. When it comes to successful captains in this format, Rohit Sharma is certainly mentioned, as he has achieved success in both the Indian Premier League and international cricket.

Considering the kind of success Rohit Sharma has achieved in T20 cricket as a leader, not only fans but also many former cricket legends consider him the best captain. However, the opinion of former England cricketer Michael Vaughan is different, and he has named Mahendra Singh Dhoni, not Rohit, as the all-time best T20 captain. Dhoni is also called a master of captaincy and has achieved considerable success in both IPL and international cricket. Like Rohit, Dhoni has also won the T20 World Cup title and five IPL titles. However, whenever Dhoni has faced Rohit in big matches, this Mumbai player has come out on top. Despite this, Vaughan has chosen Dhoni.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma’s priceless reaction after seeing his own mimicry ahead of Indian Premier League 2026

Michael Vaughan cited MS Dhoni's success with Chennai Super Kings and Team India as the reason behind calling him the best captain.

"You can't look beyond MS Dhoni. What he's done with Chennai, he's been remarkable, and with India over the years, he's the best I've seen," he said on Cricbuzz.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cricbuzz (@cricbuzzofficial)

What is MS Dhoni’s captaincy record in T20 cricket?

MS Dhoni's captaincy career started very brilliantly. As a captain, Dhoni raised the flags of success in his very first ICC tournament and made India the champions of the T20 World Cup in 2007. However, after this, Captain Cool did not get a trophy in five editions, but in 2014, Team India became the runner-up under his captaincy.

Talking about the IPL, Dhoni has proven to be a boss here, and he has tasted championship success five times with the Chennai Super Kings. Under Dhoni's leadership, CSK won the seasons of 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. The T20 captaincy record of MS Dhoni shows his remarkable success in the format. In 331 matches as captain, he won 192 and lost 133, while two matches ended in a tie and four produced no result. However, it will be interesting to see if this IPL 2026 will be his last or not.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhirreplied to MS Dhoni’s viral comment, which he shared on Instagram after India’s win in the T20 World Cup 2026, defeating New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. 

During an interaction with the media, maintaining a broad smile on his face, Gautam Gambhir said that he wished one day Dhoni would be in his position, and Gautam Gambhir would say the same.

“Good on him to come and watch the World Cup final. Good on him to ask me to smile, and I wish one day he could be in my position, and I can write the same thing, and hopefully, he can smile from the dugout," Gautam Gambhir responded at the Revsports event.

Gambhir talking about MS Dhoni's Instagram post.

Look at that smile on his face! 🤣❤️ pic.twitter.com/trHU8flU4S

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) March 16, 2026

What MS Dhoni said about Gautam Gambhir’s smile

Gautam Gambhir is not among the people who smile a lot. The former opener preferred to maintain a mostly stoic or tense face throughout the match. But that night in Ahmedabad was different. Like every Indian cricket fan, Gambhir was also spotted smiling in the Indian cricket team dressing room.  Dhoni spotted the moment and suggested that the head coach smile more in the upcoming days.

“Coach Sahab's smile looks great on you. Intensity with a smile is a killer combo. Very well done. Enjoy, guys,” MS Dhoni said this on his post.

Read More: Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal shares hilarious wedding memory after meeting host at Kuldeep Yadav’s event

The past history behind Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni's relation

Under the current circumstances, Gautam Gambhir is the head coach of Team India, and MS Dhoni, a former international cricketer and icon of the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK), seems to be sharing a relationship based on mutual respect.

If we walked a few years back, then the scenario might be a little bit different. As per the media reports, there were conflicts of thought and ideology between Dhoni and Gambhir. While Dhoni wanted to rotate the playing combination to inject more young blood into the team, Gambhir's vision was around a stable playing eleven.

If the reports are to be believed, then Dhoni was openly unhappy with the opener’s attitude and on-field ethics during the 2012 home series against England. According to an India Today report, “In the 2012 Tri-series in Australia, Dhoni declared that he can't play all three (Gambhir, Sachin, and Sehwag) of us together as he was looking ahead at the 2015 World Cup,” Gautam Gambhir told the media house in 2018.

"It was a massive shock, I think it would have been a massive shock for any cricketer. I have not heard anyone be told in 2012 that they would never be a part of the 2015 World Cup. I always had the impression that if you keep scoring runs, age is just a number,” he further claimed.

Fans react to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 controversy

Things shape differently as time passes by. Once a relationship surrounded by a lot of controversies, now looks a lot calmer.  Indian cricket fans, who have been monitoring all the developments closely, could not stop themselves from sharing their views on the present ground. For some, it is a “love-hate relationship”, while some other cricket fans wrote, “The world is healing.. (Cricket World)”.

The world is healing.. (Cricket World)

— Fake Umpire (@TheFakeUmpire) March 16, 2026

That love hate relationship 😱😍

— Sir Shah Analyst (@SirShahAnalyst) March 16, 2026

He's trying to say When Dhoni will sit in his position, he will know that pressure is so high that you forget to smile.

Dhoni captained a team without coach for years & that team owned everyone. He has captained & won more than anyone in whole cricketing career. Don't tell him.

— _fitman_ (@_FITMAN_) March 16, 2026

India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav completed five years in international cricket on Saturday. The star batter marked the milestone by sharing a message with fans on social media. Surya has become one of India’s most important players in the shortest format during this period. He also led India to their third T20 World Cup title recently.

Sharing a video of his international journey on X, the Indian skipper expressed his emotions about representing the country. “5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words. Here's to many more memories that we're going to create, for team India,” Yadav wrote in his post.

Suryakumar Yadav made his international debut on March 14, 2021, in a T20I match against England in Ahmedabad. Interestingly, the same venue later witnessed him leading India to a T20 World Cup triumph. Under his leadership, India created history by winning their third T20 World Cup title and also defending the trophy on home soil.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Impressive International Journey

Surya did not get the chance to bat in his debut match. However, in the fourth T20I of that England series, he made an unforgettable start to his international career. Facing the first ball of his innings, he smashed England pacer Jofra Archer for a six.

Watch the video here

5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words 🇮🇳

Here’s to many more memories that we’re going to create, for team 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/qhis2f44tQ

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) March 14, 2026

See Also: How to Book IPL 2026 Tickets on BookMyShow: Step-by-Step Guide & Price List

Since then, the right-handed batter has built an outstanding record in T20 internationals. In 113 matches, he has scored 3272 runs with four centuries and 25 half-centuries. He currently stands as India’s third-highest run-scorer in T20Is, behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Suryakumar also made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in July 2021 and his Test debut against Australia in Nagpur in 2023. He became the first Indian cricketer to debut in all three formats after turning 30. As India’s T20I captain, he has led the team in 52 matches, winning 42 and losing only eight, giving him a remarkable winning percentage of 80.76.

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cupat the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With this win, Suryakumar Yadav and his team lifted its third ICC Men's T20 World Cup title on March 8. The victory led to huge celebrations across the country.

The end of the tournament also marks the start of a new two-year cycle. The 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be a special event as it will be hosted together by Australia and New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere.

Here is a simple guide to the 11th edition of the global tournament.

Also read -BCCI gives massive update on IPL 2026 schedule announcement

Key Details for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 will be played from October 21 to November 19, 2028. The tournament will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand. It will be the second time Australia hosts the event after 2022, while it will be the first time New Zealand hosts the tournament.

Some of the most famous stadiums in both countries are expected to host matches. The final list of venues is still being decided by Tournament Chair Dame Therese Walsh. The tournament is expected to have 55 matches.

Teams Already Qualified

Some teams have already qualified for the tournament.

1. Australia and New Zealand – Hosts
2. England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe – Qualified from Super 8 stage
3. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland – Qualified by rankings

Regional Qualifiers

The remaining places will be decided through regional qualifiers.

Africa Qualifiers

Qualifier A (May 22, 2026): Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone

Qualifier B (March 24, 2026): Eswatini, Ghana, Malawi, Saint Helena, Seychelles, Tanzania

Qualifier C (Date to be announced): Gambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia
Top teams will move to the Regional Africa Qualifier along with Namibia.

Americas Qualifiers

Qualifier A (June 19, 2026): Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Panama

Qualifier B (Ongoing): Cayman Islands, Mexico, Suriname, Argentina
Top teams will move to the Regional Americas Qualifier with Canada and the USA.

Asia Qualifiers

Asia qualifiers will include Nepal, Oman, and UAE along with teams coming from three sub-regional tournaments.

East Asia-Pacific Qualifier

Sub-regional qualifier (May 8, 2026): Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, South Korea, Vanuatu.

Europe Qualifiers

Qualifier A (May 16, 2026): Croatia, Cyprus, France, Jersey, Switzerland, Austria, Guernsey, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden

Qualifier B (July 8, 2026): Belgium, Gibraltar, Romania, Serbia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Turkey

Qualifier C (August 14, 2026): Bulgaria, Finland, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Israel, Portugal

Top teams will join Italy, the Netherlands, and Scotland in the Regional Europe Qualifier.

Tournament Format

The format will be the same as the 2026 tournament. There will be four groups of five teams. The top teams will move to the Super 8 stage, followed by semi-finals and the final.

India will go into the 2028 tournament as the defending champions after winning the 2026 T20 World Cup. New Zealand will also look to use home advantage after finishing runners-up in 2026.

Sanju Samson received a grand welcome as soon as he came out of the airport in his hometown. The Kerala-born stepped out of the Kerala airport with a huge applause from the fans. A large number of fans gathered to welcome the best player of the T20 World Cup 2026, mostly the local hero of Kerala. 

Samson, who had been struggling to score runs before the T20 World Cup 2026, concluded the tournament with the silverware and the Player of the Tournament award. On the Ahmedabad track, where the New Zealand batters suffocated for some runs, the star opener made his strokes soothing for the eyes.

In the summit clash, against a strong New Zealand cricket team, the right-handed batter smashed 89 runs off 46 balls. Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson proved the most expensive individual against Samson. The express bowler leaked 30 runs in only 7 balls. Against Ferguson, Samson hit two 4s and three 6.

Read More: Gautam Gambhir responds to MS Dhoni’s 'Coach Sahab' message after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win

Another Kisi pacer, Matt Henry, also proved costly when he conceded 19 runs off 11 balls against the Indian batter. During the 46-ball knock, the Kerala-born smacked five 4s and eight 6s in total, which took his strike rate to 193.48.

Along with Abhishek Sharma (52) and Samson, India got 98 runs against 43 balls for the opening stand. Ishan Kishan, the number three batter, also joined the run feast after Sharma’s departure. For the second wicket, Ishan and Sanju confirmed 105 runs in 48 balls.

Sanju Samson receives a grand reception in Kerala

GRAND WELCOME FOR SANJU SAMSON IN KERALA..!!! 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/F7cQosxOj2

— Johns Samson (@CricCrazyJohns) March 9, 2026

Posting a record-breaking total of 255, India won the Final by 96 runs. It was a magical moment for Sanju Samson. He was running out of words when he was asked to describe his feelings.

“It feels like a dream, actually. Very, very happy, very grateful. Out of words, out of emotions. I’m just going through it, so it feels a bit surreal”, with a smile on face, Samson said after the match. 

Bursting into the scene with an unorthodox action, Jasprit Bumrah has grown into a bowler of a wide range of skills. The ability to swing the ball both ways, move it off the pitch, deceive with changes in pace and length, explode with pace and also just York the batter, Bumrah has it all.

In the Semi-Finals the skills were on display. In a game where 499 runs were scored Bumrah was left to be the game changer once more. He did so inBarbados 2024, with 30 needed off 30, bowling a back to the wall game changing spell to win the World Cup. 

This time, 69 off 30, the required rate just a run ahead of the teams run-rate, England had the game in the balance. Despite all their explosiveness in the chase though they chose to play out 12 of those balls knowing it was from the hands of Jasprit Bumrah. It was a night of theatre with the air of unpredictability. 253 runs scored and the Indian team was biting their nails until the 39^th over.

The 18^th over of the innings with 45 to get was the peak of theatre. For all its unpredictability, each character involved knew exactly what was coming when Bumrah took the ball. A man who has mastered every delivery a pace bowler can bowl, defending late in a T20 game on the flattest of wickets. Bumrah kept it simple.

He stuck to his strength, the ball that made him famous and poked away with the yorker. Full, fast and straight. He did it in Bengaluru 2016 to give Hardik Pandya runs to defend against Bangladesh in the Final over.  He did the same again to give Hardik Pandya more space on the stage.

A masterclass, six deliveries, full, fast and straight. The audience left marvelling yet again at how a bowler went at just 8 an over when 12 runs an over was the norm for the evening. England were left hiding. Jacob Bethell, for all the effort the put in chose to weight it out and gamble against the bowlers after Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Bumrah though did his job perfectly and the momentum was killed. Pandya as has happened many times used the stage to finish things off.

It was one man in Jasprit Bumrah, though, who once again showed his class doing so in the most predictable manner of an unpredictable art. He weaved his magic earlier in the game as well with a loopy slower deliver,y foxing Harry Brook and some help from a blinder by Axar Patel in the field. The variation is always on display. Over number 18, though, was just going one way.  Amid all the unpredictable and fast-moving facets of the game, it was one bowler who stuck to his predictable and mastered the defense of a target.

A Good South African Tournament often sees them go really well in the Main stages of the tournament. They dominate, look very much favorites, and do it all with very little superstars only for the Madness to unfold in the Knockouts. The Trend was slowly moving away. In 2024, they won the Semi-Finals, made the finals, were30 runs away from the Trophy with 30 balls to go and then madness unfolded. The knockout stories are a plenty for them but in this case it was not madness, it was a complete hiding.

Starting the tournament, South Africa had no obvious flaws and were a team of good role based cricketers. They did lose starters Donovan Ferreira and Tony De Zorzi to start but Tristin Stubbs and Ryan Rickleton more than made up for the two missing players. In Lungi Ngidi South Africa had a pacer with an Arsenal of slower balls and Marco Jansen was there with the pace and bounce to complement Kagiso Rabada’s explosiveness. It was a well-rounded bowling attack.

The batting line-up had experience with Quinton De Kock back, Aiden Markram and David Miller doing well, and youth in the likes of Dewald Brevis. Coming into the tournament South Africa had a thriller of a game with Afghanistan, using two super overs to win coming some early tournament nerves. The dominance started in the group stages and went on to the Super Eights when they trounced the favorites, India.

The stage was set. A semi-final with New Zealand. The ones who gave the heartbreak of 2015 in a final over finish. The ones who also gave a heartbreak in the 2011 Quarter Finals were madness saw South Africa fail to chase 221 in an ODI. The two sides were semi-finalists in the most recent ICC Event as well facing off in the Champions Trophy. New Zealand, a side South Africa just can not seem to  crack past.

New Zealand to there respect did their homework. A relatively new bowler in 34 year old Cole McConchie, it was his off spin that did the trick. Off-spin downing the two top order lefties in Ryan Rickleton and Quinton De Kock. Tight lines from there and the innings did not seem to recover until brilliance from Jansen and Stubbs took them to a fighting 168. A semi-final chase, a few wickets and the nerves begin. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen though to cue from Brendon McCullum back in 2015 and took the game on. They killed the chase with an 80 run powerplay and no recovery could be made. There was no fightback, no madness, just sheer dominance and professionalism from the New Zealand camp.

Knockout baggage, something that fails to leave South Africa, has struck again in a different way this time. The WTC win should have marked an end to their ICC tournament struggles, but that could well be a one-off as they still look for a World Cup win. They have a home World Cup next year and a good chunk of the current squad is expected to feature there too. The tournament here though, was theirs for the taking. Beating the hosts, playing multiple games where the Finals was to be hosted, the Semi-Finals was just a step in the way to glory.

Incidentally, the dominance shown by New Zealand left no room for tears. The same group was left in shambles after a thrilling Semi-Final against Australia in Kolkata three years ago.  This time, there was room for none of that as the trouncing was evident. Kolkata has now witnessed two South African knockout defeats and South Africa whimper away hoping the next one will be theirs.

New controversy erupted when former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shahid Afridi, made a strange comment about Irfan Khan Niazi's age during a television conversation after their disappointing exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, where they did not reach the semi-final after reaching the Super Eight stages of the event.

Pakistan, skipping with Salman Ali Agha, was only able to gain one win in the Super Eight, and their last match against Sri Lanka was a close loss (5 runs), but the outcome did not help them because of their different net run rates. The early displacement from tournaments resulted in fans and cricket experts criticizing the team and questioning the leadership and strategies of the squad.

It was recommended by Afridi, during the discussion regarding who would lead Pakistan in a global arena in the near future, that there should be a change in the captaincy by the team management prior to more international matches being played. He then supported Fakhar Zaman as one of those who can possibly become captain of Pakistan's T20I team. Additionally, he named some other potential candidates, such as Irfan Khan Niazi, who has captained Pakistan Shaheens at lower levels and has proven to exhibit very good leadership qualities.

🚨 IT TAKES ONE FRAUD TO SPOT ANOTHER

During a discussion on Pakistan cricket, Shahid Afridi burst into sarcastic disbelief when the anchor mentioned that one of the Pakistani players is just 23 years old.

“If he is 23, then we are fine… we must be around 30–35,” Afridi… pic.twitter.com/iHGL2ZZdZo

— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 5, 2026

See Also: Watch: Finn Allen smashes Corbin Bosch for 22-run over in SA vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final

Afridi’s Remark on Irfan Khan Niazi Goes Viral

Irfan Khan Niazi, who reportedly is 23 years old, caused Afridi some shock when the host of the show informed the audience of that fact, creating laughter from Afridi on live television in a somewhat sarcastic manner. He then commented that players from his generation should be approximately the same age as Irfan Khan Niazi.

The remark made by Afridi managed to quickly go viral among social media users, which generated plenty of discussion amongst fans of Pakistani cricket. Many interpreted the comment to be funny and sarcastic; other fans see it as a clue that there might be some age differences with those participating in domestic cricket. Although acknowledged to be a good leader (Irfan), he has very little international batting experience with just 237 runs in 23 matches combined for all formats of the game. In addition, with so many upcoming players vying for positions on the squad, Irfan will likely need to have some impressive domestic performances in order to have any hope of getting back onto the Pakistan national team consistently.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has a suggestion for the current head coach of the team, Gautam Gambhir, ahead of the India vs England T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final in Mumbai. Shastri asks Gambhir to consider Kuldeep Yadav for the match, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy.   

The Wankhede cricket stadium will host the India vs England semi-final fixture of the tournament. Traditionally, Mumbai’s iconic stadium offers batting-friendly surfaces. For the Semi-Final, the pitch can act in favor of batters.

If the deck turns out to be a batter's paradise, then the bowlers, especially the pacers, may have to go through a nightmare.  Team India has multiple pace bowling options in the team in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube. Mohammad Siraj is also with the team as a backup option. Assuming the nature of the Wankhede pitch, Ravi Shastri suggests that Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management should play an extra spinner for the semi-final.

Read More: PCB eyes former captain as new head coach after poor T20 WC 2026 campaign

Varun Chakaravarthy proved expensive against the West Indies in the Super 8 match. If he goes costly in the semi-final as well, then it can be a huge trouble for Team India. Kuldeep’s presence on the ground can offer the Team an extra precaution, Shastri feels.

“England has 8 right-handed batters in their top 9. If Varun does not have a good day, there must be another wicket-taking option, team needs someone who can take wickets in the middle overs alongside Varun. Kuldeep should be included in the playing XI because on the Mumbai pitch, England batters can easily score runs against Pacers”, the former head coach said.

Ravi Shastri asks Team India to play Kuldeep Yadav vs England at any cost 

But who can be replaced by the spinner? The former Indian cricketer opined that in place of a batter, the management should include Yadav in the playing combination as a bowler like him can break crucial partnerships in the middle.

“Even if the team has to compromise by dropping one batter, Kuldeep Yadav should somehow be included. A bowler like Kuldeep, who can break partnerships in the middle overs, will be crucial. We don’t know what kind of day Varun will have, and the Mumbai pitch is flat, which makes wicket-taking difficult for pacers”, Ravi Shastri further stated.

A major update has arrived ahead of the India vs England (IND vs ENG) Semi-Final match of the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup. Match officials for the Semi-Final has announced on March 3. Controversial Andy Pycroft is appointed as the match referee for the high-profile clash on March 5 in Mumbai. 

According to recent reports, Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker will be the On-field umpires for the match. Adrian Holdstock and Paul Reiffel will be there as the third and fourth umpires, respectively, while Andy Pycroft is appointed as the match referee.

Full List of Match Officials of the India vs England Semi-Final, T20 World Cup 2026:

On-field Umpire - Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker

Third Umpire - Adrian Holdstock

Fourth Umpire - Paul Reiffel

Match Referee - Andy Pycroft

Read More: Former Pakistan batter asks ICC to change rules ahead of IND vs ENG Semi-Final of T20 World Cup 2026

During the Asia Cup 2025, Andy Pycroft made headlines because of the no-handshake row. In the tournament, Team India refused to shake hands with their arch-rivals Pakistan in protest of the Pahalgam terror attack incident.

In reply to India’s on-field act, Pakistan accused the match referee in charge, Andy Pycroft. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued him for breaching ICC codes as well as the spirit of the game. In a strong demand, the PCB asked ICC to remove Pycroft from the rest of the tournament.

Why is the match referee Andy Pycroft controversial?

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, “As Pycroft walked on to the field, he was told by the ACC venue manager that the BCCI had communicated - with the Indian government's approval - that there would be no handshake between the captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha.”

“Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match. The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft's actions. Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match”, PCB stated in an official statement.