As the cricketing world descends on India for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the man who led the nation to its first glory in 2007 has delivered a resounding vote of confidence. Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has labelled the Suryakumar Yadav-led side as "one of the most dangerous teams" in the tournament, citing their vast experience and role clarity.
India enters the tournament as defending champions with a staggering 51-8 win-loss record in T20Is since October 2023. Fresh off a 4-1 series win over New Zealand and riding a streak of nine consecutive bilateral series victories, the hosts are the team to beat.
Dhoni believes the current squad possesses every ingredient required for a title defence.
What all is needed in a good team, everything is there. They have the experience... They have played under pressure. Whoever is playing whatever roles, they have been in that situation for a considerable period of time
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Dhoni specifically pointed to the balance of the squad, which features world-class six-hitters and a bowling attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy.
Despite his confidence, Dhoni highlighted the external variables that can derail even the best teams. His primary concern is the heavy dew often seen in India during this time of year, which can turn the toss into a match-deciding event.
The fear: "What worries me, again, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. Even when I was playing, something that really scared me was dew, where the toss becomes crucial."
The neutralizer: Dhoni argued that on neutral conditions, India would win "more often than not" in a 10-match series against top opposition, but dew removes that certainty.
Dhoni also touched on the inherent volatility of the T20 format, where a single individual brilliance from the opposition can undo months of preparation.
The knockout risk: "The problem is when some of your players have a day off and somebody from the opposition has a brilliant day... whether in the league stage or the knockout stage, that's where all the praying is needed."
The verdict: "If nobody gets injured and people accomplish their roles... I don't want to jinx it, but it's one of the most dangerous teams."
India begins their title defence on Saturday against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
