As the cricket world shifts focus to the subcontinent, 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup It has caused a huge stir. Co-hosted by heavyweights India and Sri LankaThe 10th edition of the tournament will be the largest in its history with 20 teams competing at iconic venues such as Mumbai, Colombo and Ahmedabad. With home advantage playing a major role and the shortest format becoming increasingly unpredictable, fans and pundits alike are scrambling to find teams that can survive the grueling group stages.

Amid this growing craze, Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath and participated in his expert analysis. Known for his on-field accuracy, McGrath is equally as sharp with his off-field predictions, and his latest predictions for the 2026 semi-finalists have caused a stir in the cricketing world.

Glenn McGrath predicts 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final line-up

Predicting the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup is never easy, but =McGrath has narrowed it down to four main contenders. ‘Pidge’ reports that the semi-final line-up will likely be dominated by the usual strong teams, although he admits fourth place will be a toss-up between two clinical teams.

“First is India, second is South Africa, third is England and as the fourth semi-finalist I really want to say Australia but that’s hard so maybe Pakistan or New Zealand,” McGrath said on his podcast “The Fast Bowling Cartel.”

McGrath selected India and South Africa This is not surprising. Playing in familiar home conditions, with a host of spin bowling all-rounders and IPL-trained finishers, India remain the team to beat. South Africa, meanwhile, have shed the “suffocation” tag in recent years, consistently attacking at a pace that can exploit any surface to reach the ultimate goal of ICC events. EnglandThe pioneer of the modern aggressive T20 style, he ranks third in the list. Yet, in a rare moment of doubt about his country, McGrath noted: Australia Cases in Asia may face steep climb, leaving last chance open Pakistanof fickle brilliance or new zealand Tactical consistency.

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Who will lift the trophy? McGrath’s verdict on potential winners

While identifying the semifinalists is one thing, picking the eventual champion requires a deeper look at team balance and dynamics. McGrath was quick to identify two teams he felt were better than the rest in the high-pressure environment of a World Cup final.

Not surprisingly, the legendary pacer believes India will lose the title. The combination of local support and a team that has mastered the art of T20 in the subcontinent makes them overwhelming favourites. However, if the men in blue stumble, McGrath sees a specific dark horse poised to take the crown.

“India will be hard to beat, if not India then I would probably go for South Africa,” McGrath explained.

This recognition for South Africa highlights the Proteas’ evolution into a clinical tournament team. As the 2026 T20 World Cup comes to an end in India, the ability to adapt to turning tracks and heavy dew will be the deciding factor. Whether McGrath’s prediction is correct or the addition of a wildcard disrupts the order, the 2026 match will go down as a landmark event in cricketing history.

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