India are strong favourites to retain the 2026 T20 World Cup at home with 2021 champions Australia and 2022 victors England close behind.
The 2024 champions co-host the T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday, February 7.
The Indians defeated South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in T20 series building up the tournament but Pakistan have said they will boycott their fixture against the Indians.
India’s aspirations
India are 11/8 picks to hold the T20 World Cup with Betway, the two-time champions are clear favourites to top Group A.
The Indians are also 7/10 to reach the final and would avoid Australia until the final were they to reach the tournament climax.
The co-hosts visited Australia in November and claimed a 2-1 series victory during rain-affected fixtures, with Washington Sundar in the headlines for his batting and bowling performances.
Sundar’s 49 not out from 23 deliveries in the third T20 and his supreme 3-3 spell in the fourth match were crucial to a pivotal series victory.
New Zealand were beaten comfortably 4-1 most recently, with Ishan Kishan’s blistering 103 from 43 balls part of a massive 271/5 score in the fifth fixture.
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Australian challenge
The 2021 world champion Australians are 15/4 rivals, despite struggling to a 3-0 series loss away to Pakistan going into the tournament.
On bouncy, dry pitches, in similar conditions to Kolkata and Chennai, the Aussies failed to score runs – bowled out for 96 and 108 chasing.
Lacking as much preparation as India, with their warm-up against the Netherlands rained off, Australia’s last T20 series victory was 2-0 in New Zealand last October.
At 8/5 to reach the final, likely to be played in India, the Green and Gold will play all their group stage fixtures before moving to India for the Super 8s.
Clear favourites to top the pool at 1/5 with Sri Lanka the only other established contender in the group, the competition starts proper during the second round.
The Australians are likely to be battling South Africa, India and maybe even the West Indies for a semi-final place in the second round group of death.
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England’s comeback
After a demoralising Ashes series 4-1 demolition that raised serious questions over Brendon McCullum’s job security, a strong performance is desperately needed.
Uncertainty around the camp hasn’t been helped by captain Harry Brook’s admission that he lied to ECB investigators regarding his nightclub fight in New Zealand last November.
The 11/2 hopefuls claimed a clean sweep 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka preparing for the World Cup.
Sam Curran impressed with 58 runs with the bat and 3-38 figures through the series, as Jacob Bethell took a 4-11 record in the final match.
South African salvo
The Proteas elected to build short-form practice at home against the West Indies and defeated the Windies 3-0.
Aiden Markram set the standard with 86 not out from 47 balls in the first match, as Quinton de Kock responded with 115 at 234 strike rate the next match.
De Kock and Ryan Rickelton, who finished on 77 off 36 not out, built a superb 162-run partnership to clinch the series.
South Africa are looking mighty with the bat in conditions that will reward powerful hitting, at 11/2 to win overall.
Prediction: Australia at 15/4
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SportJustSport writers