It’s barely been a week since the T20 World Cup 2026 kicked off in Colombo and Mumbai, but we’ve already seen some exciting matches that are basically a glimpse of what’s in store for us this year.
But even before the first matches took off, many have already been talking about the young talents from different teams. From explosive openers to mystery spinners, these are the six players you need to keep your eyes on as you watch more of this year’sT20 Men’s World Cup.
Abhishek Sharma (India)
If you haven’t seen Abhishek Sharma bat lately, you’re missing out on what looks like a cheat code. Currently ranked as the ICC’s No. 1 T20 batter, Abhishek enters this home World Cup with a staggering career strike rate of 194.74.
Abhishek is the spearhead of India’s aggressive new era, and he’s already underlined his intent with a massive 135 against England in a record-breaking run.
Jacob Bethell (England)
England might have had a close call against Nepal, but Jacob Bethell proved exactly why he’s the talk of the town. The 22-year-old Barbados-born all-rounder rescued the innings with a counter-attacking 55 off just 35 balls.
He’s a 3D player in the truest sense, as he’s capable of hitting massive sixes, bowling tight left-arm spin, and being arguably the best fielder in the England camp. Fresh off an Ashes century, we can tell his confidence is sky-high, and that’s usually a good thing to get through a tournament as big as this one.
Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)
Everyone knows Rashid Khan, but Noor Ahmad is the mystery that teams still haven’t solved. At just 21, the left-arm wrist spinner has become a global mercenary in T20 leagues, recently landing a massive 10-crore deal with CSK.
On the dry, turning tracks of Mumbai and Colombo, Noor’s ability to vary his pace makes him nearly unplayable. He and Rashid form the most expensive spin twin threat in the competition.
Cooper Connolly (Australia)
Whether it’s 10CRIC cricket satta or a random cricket thread on Reddit, Australia is definitely one of the favorites to win this year. They’re part of the big three races alongside India and England, and so their players are simply worth keeping an eye on.
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, Cooper Connolly, is Australia’s Swiss Army knife. What makes him such a massive asset is his versatility. While Australia’s pace attack has taken a hit with injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Connolly offers a tactical out that most teams dream of.
He’s a left-arm orthodox spinner who can squeeze the run rate on dusty tracks, but he’s also a fearless middle-order finisher who doesn’t blink when the required rate climbs. Connolly first caught the world’s attention when he steered the Perth Scorchers to a BBL title with a cold-blooded cameo, and he’s only gotten better since.
Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
Pakistan fans would agree that the team’s campaign often feels like a rollercoaster, and Saim Ayub might just be the spark they desperately need. Known for his signature no-look scoop shot, Ayub is the most expensive local signing in PSL history for a reason.
He’s a disruptor who can flip a game in the Powerplay. He recently warmed up for the tournament with a gritty 56 against Australia, proving he can handle high-velocity pace just as well as he handles spin.
Kwena Maphaka (South Africa)
If Connolly is a precision tool of Australia, Kwena Maphaka is the sledgehammer. At just 19 years old, he’s the youngest player in the Proteas squad, but he carries the fire of a seasoned veteran.
After a record-breaking U19 World Cup where he snagged 21 wickets, Maphaka has successfully transitioned his 145km/h left-arm thunderbolts to the big stage. South Africa has a history of producing elite pacers, and Maphaka looks like the natural heir to the throne.
His ability to nail yorkers in the death overs is exactly what South Africa needs to finally break their World Cup curse.
Conclusion
These are just some of the young stars to watch out for this year. While they already possess great potential, we definitely have to watch more of them to see how well they work with their respective teams, especially with the veterans.
We can’t discount how some of the favorites to win this year have cricket’s biggest names like Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. It will be interesting to see if these youngsters will be able to match their seniors or maybe even vice versa.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to run until March 8, 2026, and the final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. However, if Pakistan gets into the final, the match will then be moved to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to ensure it’s played on a neutral ground amidst the diplomatic situation between Pakistan and India.
