Not Jasprit Bumrah! Ravichandran Ashwin picks India’s two biggest weapons for T20 World Cup 2026

Table of Contents

The T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to begin on February 7 in India, with Sri Lanka co-hosting the global event — similar to the recently concluded Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, which saw the Indian women’s team lift the trophy in style. As defending champions, expectations are soaring for Team India, who enter the tournament with one of the most balanced and in-form squads in the world. Yet, identifying the true match-winners in such a star-studded side is no easy feat.

However, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken on the challenge and named two players who he believes will define India’s campaign at the mega event — and surprisingly, Jasprit Bumrah isn’t one of them.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin shared his insights on India’s key strengths for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Instead of the obvious pick — Bumrah, who dominated the 2024 edition – Ashwin highlighted Varun Chakravarthy and Abhishek Sharma as the “two biggest weapons” India possess.

Ashwin explained that while Bumrah’s brilliance is undisputed, opposition teams have now become well-prepared to face him. The challenge for teams, according to him, lies in decoding the mystery and impact of Chakravarthy’s spin and Abhishek’s all-round prowess.

“If any team wants to win the T20 World Cup in India, they will have to master two factors. I was saying until now that handling Jasprit Bumrah. But I will say right now, the way I have seen Tim David handle Varun Chakravarthy, I am thinking teams will gun for Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy if they have to get past India,” said Ashwin.

The former Indian spinner emphasized that the duo’s contrasting but complementary styles make them a nightmare for opponents. Varun’s deceptive spin on Indian tracks and Abhishek’s explosive batting at the top of the order could well tilt games in India’s favour.

Also READ: UAE seal the last berth for T20 World Cup 2026 as full 20-team lineup takes shape

Ashwin’s omission of Bumrah, who was the Player of the Tournament in India’s 2024 triumph with 15 wickets, might come as a surprise to many. However, the seasoned cricketer reasoned that Bumrah’s consistency has made him a known entity. Teams now build their game plans around surviving his overs rather than attacking him.

In contrast, Varun’s mystery spin and Abhishek’s fearlessness with the bat introduce unpredictability — a quality that can break the rhythm of even the most experienced oppositions. Ashwin believes that these two players could be the decisive factor in India’s bid to retain the title on home soil.

“Opposition teams may plan for Bumrah, but handling Chakravarthy’s variations and Abhishek’s aggression will be their real test,” he added.

Also READ: What is a Casual Playing Agreement? Kane Williamson signs new deal with New Zealand Cricket to play in T20 World Cup 2026