T20 World Cup Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia assessed

We look at the sides in Group A – India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia – for the T20 World Cup, which is live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8.

India

Best result: Winners (2007, 2024)
2024 result: Winners
How did they qualify for 2026? Co-hosts
Head coach: Gautam Gambhir

Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan.

Players to watch: Picked as a ‘finisher’ in the middle-order, Rinku Singh has the ability to hold his nerve in the death overs of a run-chase and get his side over the line or help post an imposing total.

Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has the knack of making things happen. While he may not feature in every game, when selected he seems ensured to have an impact on the outcome with a fearsome track record in the shortest format.

A notable omission is Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, whose poor return at the top of the order in the Asia Cup is what has seen him miss out at the expense of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

Round-one fixtures: vs USA (Mumbai, February 7); vs Namibia (Delhi, February 12); vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, February 18)

Pakistan

Best result: Winners (2009)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? On T20 world ranking
Head Coach: Mike Hesson

Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

Players to watch: In the absence of Haris Rauf, who was omitted from the squad in favour of more spin options, left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi will spearhead the bowling attack with the new ball. He has bags of experience and match-winning potential. Look out for the toe-crushing inswinging yorkers.

Babar Azam, on his day, is one of the classiest players to watch in the global game. Despite disappointing returns in the Big Bash recently for Sydney Sixers, the former captain will take his place in the middle order and when he gets it right, he gets it right in style.

Round-one fixtures: vs Netherlands (Colombo, February 7); vs USA (Colombo, February 10); vs Namibia (Colombo, February 18)

USA

Best result: Super 8s (2024)
2024 result: Super 8s
How did they qualify for 2026? Through their performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Head coach: Pubudu Dassanayake

Squad: Monank Patel (captain), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.

Players to watch: One of USA’s breakout stars in their eye-catching performance as co-hosts two years ago was Andries Gous. Since then, the South Africa-born opener has gone on to make an impact in franchise leagues.

Most recently, that was in the ILT20, where he registered the competition’s highest individual score with 120 not out for eventual champions Desert Vipers.

Left-arm seamer, and some-time software engineer, Saurabh Nethravalkar, was the architect of USA’s famous Super Over victory against Pakistan two years ago. The former India U19 international will be keen to try and replicate his performance against his native country in 2024 when he prised out Virat Kohli.

Round-one fixtures: vs India (Mumbai, February 7); vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 10); vs Netherlands (Chennai, February 13); vs Namibia (Chennai, February 15)

Netherlands

Best result: Super 19s (2014)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? Came through European Qualifier
Head coach: Ryan Cook

Squad: Scott Edwards (captain), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Saqib Zulfiqar, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaassen, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten.

Players to watch: Mulleted opener Max O’Dowd has a big back-lift and the potential to go big and clear the ropes in style. When he gets going, he is entertaining to watch.

Former Somerset spinner Roelof van der Merwe has bags and bags of experience from years playing both internationally and across the franchise leagues. He makes things happen and celebrates wickets with full gusto.

Round-one fixtures: vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 7); vs Namibia (Delhi, February 10); vs USA (Chennai, February 13); vs India (Ahmedabad, February 18)

Namibia

Best result: Super 12s (2021)
2024 result: Group stage
How did they qualify for 2026? Came through Africa Qualifier
Head coach: Craig Williams

Squad: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Jan Balt, Dylan Leicher, Willem Myburgh, Max Heingo. Reserve: Alexander Busing-Volschenk.

Players to watch: Top-order batter may Louren Steenkamp may have only played seven T20Is coming into this tournament, but already has a strike rate above 126. He made key contributions through the African qualifier last autumn as Namibia went unbeaten until the final against Zimbabwe.

Left-arm quick Ruben Trumpelmann made an impression two years ago with the new ball, including cleaning up then England captain Jos Buttler for a duck with his in-swingers. He averages just under 21 in T20Is with the ball.

Round-one fixtures: vs Netherlands (Delhi, February 10); vs India (Delhi, February 12); vs USA (Chennai, February 15), vs Pakistan (Colombo, February 18)

Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.

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