The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India will enter the tournament as defending champions after their memorable triumph in the 2024 edition, where they defeated South Africa in the final held in the West Indies and the USA. With the squad announcement featuring several bold exclusions and inclusions, the Men in Blue appear to be transitioning towards a younger and more aggressive setup. As India prepares to defend their crown on home soil, here is a detailed SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis of the team ahead of the marquee event.
India's biggest strength lies in their explosive opening combination and a well-rounded bowling attack. The exclusion of Shubman Gill and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan following his impressive performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy signal a shift towards an attacking approach. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are expected to open the innings, both known for striking at over 150, which can put opposition bowlers under pressure from the very start.
On the bowling front, India boast a formidable trio in Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy. Bumrah's precision at the death, Arshdeep's left-arm angle with the new ball, and Chakravarthy's mystery spin in the middle overs provide India with wicket-taking options throughout the innings.
