The ICC T20 World Cup is just around the corner and all the teams are gearing up for a blockbuster event and the latest squad for the ICC tournament has been announced. India will enter this tournament as favorites; however, there are some players who have performed well while playing in India and may single-handedly upset India.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off on February 7 with Team India taking on the United States. India are tied with weaker teams in Group A of the World Cup. Their group includes Pakistan, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands.

While Indians may not be intimidated by any of the players from these countries, they are likely to face tougher opponents in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand when they advance to the next stage of the World Cup tournament. All of these opponents have cricketers who have a rich record against the Men in Blue.

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3 dangerous cricketers who could cause a major upset for India in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup:

3. Darryl Mitchell

The New Zealand right-handed middle-order batsman is known for being a good ODI batsman. He has proven time and time again that he is reliable in the 50-plus game; however, in the shortest format of the game, his impact has not been as significant.

Mitchell bats lower in the order in T20s but still poses a threat to the Indian bowlers as the batsmen have incredible touch with the ball on Indian tracks. Combining data from the three formats of the game, Mitchell scored 1,306 points in 35 games against India, which was his second-highest score against all opponents.

He averages 40.81 and has 4 centuries against them. He scored 1400 runs while playing in India, which also includes the 2023 ICC World Cup. Mitchell scored 1,400 points in just 30 games, averaging 50 points.

2. Quinton de Kock

After Daryl Mitchell, who has not played in the Indian subcontinent for many years and is an ever-changing threat, South African cricketer Quinton de Kock has a long-standing love for India. Every time de Kock comes to India, he wows everyone with some swashbuckling batting.

Unlike Daryl Mitchell, Quinton de Kock is an equally explosive batsman in the shortest format of the game and he usually bats from his usual position at the top. De Kock recently scored a stunning wicket against West Indies at Centurion.

Talking about de Kock’s statistics, the batsman played 40 games in India and scored 1855 runs at an average of 46.37 and a strike rate of 110.41. De Kock scored 3,100 goals in his international career, 16 of which came with South Africa, followed by eight with India.

De Kock has scored 1980 runs in 45 matches against India in all formats, which is the third most runs against India in his career, after Sri Lanka and England. De Kock averaged close to 50 in T20Is against India and had a strike rate of 150+.

1. Travis Hyde

The most explosive of them all. Once this guy gets going, everyone realizes the game is out of their hands. Travis Head is Australia’s most explosive and consistent player in recent years and he absolutely loves playing against India.

Head was the reason why Rohit Sharma-led India lost the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final, the 2023 ICC World Cup final and ultimately won the Champions Trophy semi-final as Head was sent back early in that match.

Travis Head’s innings doesn’t need allies; he can single-handedly destroy a team’s chances of winning a match and secure victory for Australia. He played 39 matches against India and scored 1901 runs at an average of nearly 42 and a strike rate well above 100.

For India, Head scored 923 runs in 22 matches, including an infamous century in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final. Travis Head was not only the man of the match but also a nightmare for millions of Indian fans.

Also read: Fact check: England, Australia boycott 2026 T20 World Cup over Nipah virus fears?