Team India seem to be in belligerent form ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 and will enter the tournament as a formidable contender to retain their title.

In the lead up to the marquee event, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side is currently hosting New Zealand in a five-T20I series. The Men in Blue have already gained an unassailable lead in the series after winning first three matches.

While India won the series opener by 48 runs, they chased down 209 and 154 in 15.2 and 10 overs during the second and third T20Is to emerge victorious by seven wickets and eight wickets respectively.

Looking at India’s form, former cricketer Kris Srikkanth has jokingly advised Pakistan to skip the T20 World Cup to avoid the embarrassment of being hammered by the arch-rivals.

The 1983 World Cup winner went on to claim that most teams would be scared of facing this Indian side.

“In the last match, India scored 209 in 15 overs. In this match, they scored 150 in 10 overs. Seeing this, many teams might say ‘no, we are not coming. You can keep the cup’,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube show.

“Hey Pakistan, don’t come. Your man Mohsin Naqvi has been talking about it — don’t come. You will be thrashed. A six hit in Colombo will land in Madras. Beware. The best option is to stay away. Find an excuse and don’t come. These boys will thrash them hard.

“This will send an alarming signal to every cricket team in the world. This kind of hitting in T20 cricket — I have never seen anything like it,” he added.

Srikkanth’s comment came days after PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi gave threat of a T20 World Cup boycott in support of Bangladesh’s ouster from the showpiece event.

India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group in the T20 World Cup along with the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. The bitter rivals are slated to square off on February 15 in Colombo.

On a separate note, Srikkanth showered rich praise on Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 68 not out off 20 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes in the third T20I against the Kiwis.

“This type of consistency in strike rate and effortlessness. He got those runs without looking like he worked hard for them. The point is he is playing with effortless ease. That bat swing is great, hitting sixes effortlessly over mid-wicket, covers and in the V. If you bowl short, he will put you for a six. He has got shots all over the wicket. The bowlers are not sure where to bowl to him. The bowlers are scared,” Srikkanth said.