Srikkanth also named the four teams that he feels will play the semis in T20 World Cup.
India is in an advantageous position to defend their title, with most of the games of the T20 World Cup being held at home.
Meanwhile, Srikkanth also named Australia, England, and South Africa, apart from India, as the semi-finalists. England has won the T20 World Cup twice, in 2010 and 2022, while Australia won the event in 2021. South Africa, on the other hand, lost the final of the 2024 edition of the tournament to India in Barbados.
Srikkanth also stated that India and Australia should clash in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026.
“I think India, England, South Africa, and Australia will play the semifinals. I think the finals should be between India and Australia. They will be the closest competitor to India. If these two play the final, it will be deadly,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka.
Srikkanth noted that Australia, like India, is a batting powerhouse, with its main strength being the quality of its all-rounders and a tough batting lineup. However, Srikkanth expressed concern about their bowling assault and ability to protect totals.
“Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Maxwell, and Green. If any two of these five get going, they have a powerhouse batting, just like India, in all fairness. But there is no scope in their bowling. Having many all-rounders is their biggest advantage. But with no Hazlewood, all the others will get hit in India. Zampa and Hazlewood are brilliant. There is no one else who is a gun bowler," Srikkanth added.
India will open their T20 World Cup on February 7 against the USA in Mumbai. They will then clash with Namibia on February 12 in Delhi. They are slated to clash with Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo, and then the Men in Blue will face off against the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad.