T20 World Cup 2026: Picking the World Cup XI from the semi-finalists

1 Sanju Samson WKMatches 5 Runs 321 Average 8025 Strikerate 19937Sanju Samson PicInstagramSanju Samson was the definitive comeback story of the tournament Benched early on the stylish wicketkeeperbatter roared back when it mattered most producing matchwinning knocks in the last three mustwin games With fearless strokeplay he shattered several records en route the Player of the Tournament award2 Aiden MarkramMatches 8 Runs 286 Average 4766 Strikerate 16531Aiden Markram PicAFPAiden Markram led South Africa brilliantly as captain and toporder batter amassing 286 runs at a strikerate of 16531 to finish as his teamrsquos highest scorer with three halfcenturies His recordbreaking 19ball halfcentury helped his team chase 176 vs NZ with nearly three overs to spare3 Ishan KishanMatches 9 Runs 317 Average 3522 Strikerate 19329Ishan Kishan PicPTIIshan Kishan was the backbone of Indiarsquos batting with his consistency Opening the innings he was lethal in the Powerplay early in the tournament most notably with his 77 off 40 balls vs Pakistan Later moving to No 3 he hammered 39 off 18 balls to keep the pressure on England in the semifinal before smashing a quickfire 25ball 54 in the final as India piled on 25554 Suryakumar Yadav CMatches 9 Runs 242 Average 3025 Strikerate 13672Suryakumar Yadav PicPTISuryakumar Yadavrsquos bat didnrsquot produce the usual fireworks late in the tournament but his captaincy proved pivotal in Indiarsquos title defence The skipper impressed with his calm presence and tactical calls His intelligent bowling rotations stood out in the semifinal against England where he brought back Jasprit Bumrah for the 16th and 18th overs and trusted Hardik Pandya with the 19th to regain control of the game5 Rachin RavindraMatches 9 Runs 129 Strikerate 13437 Wickets 12Rachin Ravindra PicPTIRachin Ravindra emerged as the surprise package of the tournament While his batting ability was never in doubt he stunningly emerged as one of New Zealandrsquos most effective bowlers His 427 and 32 helped derail hosts Sri Lankarsquos campaign while a 229 spell including the prized wickets of skipper Markram and David Miller ended the Proteasrsquos dream run in the semifinals6 Shivam DubeMatches 9 Runs 235 Strikerate 16906 Wickets 5Shivam Dube PicPTIShivam Dube was Indiarsquos quiet gamechanger producing a series of impactful cameos Whether batting at No 4 or No 7 he kept the run flow moving with a strikerate of 16906 Apart from his 66 off 31 balls against the Netherlands his most telling moment came in a mustwin game against WI where two boundaries in the 19th over eased the pressure off Samson7 Will JacksMatches 8 Runs 226 Strikerate 17656 Wickets 9Will Jacks PicAtul KambleWill Jacks emerged as a valuable allrounder for England Batting at No 7 and No 8 he smashed 226 runs in eight games at a strikerate of 17656 while averaging 5650 He also claimed nine scalps His tactical value was on full display against India in the semifinal where he dismissed dangerous openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson8 Hardik PandyaMatches 9 Runs 217 Strikerate 16074 Wickets 9Hardik Pandya PicPTIHardik Pandya delivered crucial performances with both bat and ball His presence allowed India to play an extra bowler knowing he could finish games with the bat and chip in with key wickets Striking at over 160 with the bat he also provided early breakthroughs including dismissing the tournamentrsquos highest runscorer Pakistanrsquos Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in the opening over9 Axar PatelMatches 7 Wickets 11 Economy 820Axar Patel PicPTIAxar Patel was a silent hero for India in the knockouts excelling with the ball and in the field He produced a fielding masterclass in the semifinal against England He first grabbed a stunner running 24 metres backwards to send back England skipper Harry Brook before executing an extraordinary relay catch with Dube to dismiss Will Jacks In the final he delivered a crucial spell of 327 including the wickets of opener Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips10 Jasprit BumrahMatches 8 Wickets 14 Economy 621Jasprit Bumrah PicPTIJasprit Bumrah hailed as a ldquonational treasurerdquo by Suryakumar once again delivered in highpressure moments Maintaining a phenomenal economy rate of 621 mdash the best among bowlers who played more than four matches mdash Bumrah conceded just 14 runs in his last two overs in the semifinal against England to pull India back into the contest before producing his careerbest PlayeroftheMatch spell 415 in the final11 Lungi NgidiMatches 7 Wickets 12 Economy 719Lungi Ngidi PicPTILungi Ngidi proved lethal with his masterful changes of pace His signature slower balls in the Powerplay and death overs helped the Proteas restrict the opposition from posting big totals His standout performances included 431 against Canada and vital spells of 326 and 330 against Afghanistan and West Indies respectively