Team India will enter the T20 World Cup 2026 as a formidable contender to retain their title. The Men in Blue haven’t lost a T20I series under Suryakumar Yadav-Gautam Gambhir regime, boasting an impressive win-loss record of 33-5.

Looking at the unprecedented dominance and quality of players in the squad, legendary opener Virender Sehwag believes the Indian team is better placed than ever before to repeat their feat from 2011 and win another world title at home.

According to Sehwag, the current side is even better than the 2007 side, led by MS Dhoni, that won the inaugural edition of the event.

“The Indian team is very good. And they are performing very well under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz. “There’s a lot of experience and some young players too. And they rightly say that there is no better combination of experience and youth.”

“According to me, this team is better than the one that we won the 2007 T20 World Cup with. They have good all-rounders and spinners. Best fast bowlers in the world and the top order is in form,” he added. “I have every hope, good reason to believe, that we will repeat what happened in 2011 and win it at home.”

Sehwag participially highlighted Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin, as well as the ‘underrated’ abilities of Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh in the lower order. However, he believes swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma will be the biggest trump card, considering his current form. Sehwag likened the Punjab left-hander’s approach to himself.

“I think the way Abhishek Sharma gives them starts, the way I used to, is a big advantage for India,” he said. “When he’s in form and batting at his 200+ strike rate, it’s hard to take the game away from them.”

India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium. They have been drawn in Group A along with the USA, Pakistan, the Netherlands and Namibia.