England batsman Philip Salt has stated that his squad is cautious about India’s threat going into the T20 World Cup 2026 and that defeating them will require a good deal of luck. Since August 2023, India has been dominating T20Is, going undefeated in both bilateral series and international competitions.
Having won 49 of their 63 games and only lost three, the reigning champions have been the most successful team in the format during this time. As an unbeaten India side heads into the forthcoming edition of the competition as defending champions, Philip Salt acknowledged their tremendous threat and expressed his delight about the idea of meeting them in the marquee event.
“I think everyone’s going to need a bit of luck to beat them. I think they are by far and away the strongest team in the World Cup. I am really excited by the idea that we get to come up against them in a World Cup in their backyard,” Salt was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
In addition to praising India opener Abhishek Sharma, Salt also discussed the comparisons that have been made between the two, pointing out that each player has unique talents and playing styles.
“The fact that he can hit the first ball for a six like that, the way he runs down the wicket, fights that line from really straight to get it over the off side, but then also hits a ball wide to him over the leg side — it is completely different. I am never going to be him. He’s never going to be me. But I do enjoy watching him bat,” Salt added.
Since making his debut in July 2024, Sharma has scored 1,267 runs from 36 innings at an average of 37.26 and an astounding strike rate of 194.92, including two hundreds and eight fifties, making him the highest run scorer in T20Is among full member nations. As the top-ranked T20I batter in the world right now, the young opener is anticipated to be crucial to India’s title defence at home.
India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign will kick off against the United States on Saturday, February 7. Along with Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States, the Men in Blue have been assigned to Group A.
