Dubai, March 9: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced its official Team of the Tournament for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, featuring several standout performers from across the competition.
The squad was selected by an expert panel comprising Ian Bishop, Eoin Morgan, Natalie Germanos, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena, and senior Sri Lankan journalist Rex Clementine.
Despite Pakistan national cricket team exiting in the Super Eight stage, opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a place in the XI after a record-breaking tournament.
Farhan scored 383 runs in seven matches, setting a new record for the most runs by a batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup. The 29-year-old also became the first player to score two centuries in one T20 World Cup, including a match-winning hundred against Sri Lanka national cricket team in the final Super Eight match.
India’s Sanju Samson was named Player of the Tournament after playing a key role in India national cricket team lifting the title.
Initially struggling to break into the starting XI, Samson made the most of his opportunity with an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies cricket team in a crucial Super Eight match. He then scored 89 against England cricket team in the semi-final and another 89 against New Zealand national cricket team in the final.
He became only the third batter in T20 World Cup history to score half-centuries in both the semi-final and final and the second to register three consecutive scores of 80 or more in the tournament.
Indian opener Ishan Kishan also earned a spot after delivering aggressive performances at the top of the order. His standout innings came against Pakistan when he smashed 77 off 40 balls, including ten fours and three sixes.
Kishan also contributed a crucial 54 in the final, alongside two important catches, completing a remarkable comeback after spending two years out of the national setup.
South African captain Aiden Markram was another key inclusion after leading South Africa national cricket team to seven consecutive wins in the tournament.
Opening the batting, Markram struck three half-centuries, including an unbeaten 86 against New Zealand and 82 against West Indies, while also contributing with the ball by dismissing Kishan in a crucial match against India.
India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was selected after scoring 217 runs and taking nine wickets. One of his highlights was a rapid 50 off 23 balls against Zimbabwe national cricket team, helping India post 256 for 4, the highest team total of the 2026 tournament.
England’s Will Jacks also impressed with both bat and ball, winning four Player of the Match awards, equalling the record held by Shane Watson in T20 World Cup history.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder showcased his versatility with key performances, including 4 for 27 against Nepal and a fighting 37 not out against India.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah finished as the joint leading wicket-taker alongside teammate Varun Chakaravarthy. Bumrah delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 15 in the final against New Zealand, earning the Player of the Match award.
South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi was another standout fast bowler, starting the tournament with 4 for 31 against Canada and consistently troubling batters with variations and slower deliveries.
England’s Adil Rashid was the only specialist spinner in the XI, playing a key role in England’s Super Eight wins with his clever use of conditions.
Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani impressed with his pace and bounce, taking 4 for 17 against Australia and helping Zimbabwe reach the Super Eights for the first time.
Meanwhile, Shadley Van Schalkwyk emerged as one of the most effective bowlers of the group stage for the United States national cricket team, producing identical figures of 4 for 25 against Pakistan and 4 for 25 against India.
The ICC said the team reflects the outstanding individual performances that defined the tournament, which saw several records broken and emerging talents make their mark on the global stage.
