T20 World Cup 2026: 3 underrated stars who took the group stage by storm

Published - 20 Feb 2026, 20:32 IST | Updated - 20 Feb 2026, 20:32 IST

The group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has come to an end, and the tournament now moves into its Super Eight phase. Over the past few weeks, fans witnessed exciting games across venues in India and Sri Lanka.

While some results were expected, a few surprises grabbed headlines. With qualification spots sealed, eight teams remain in the hunt for the title. In the next round, they will be split into two groups of four, starting afresh with a clean slate as the points will not be carried forward. Each team will play three matches, with the top two from both groups advancing to the semi-finals.

However, during the group stage, there were a few players who were lesser known ahead of the marquee event, but their performances became the talking point. While some efforts handed their team qualification to the next round, others ended in individual brilliance.

Zimbabwe has emerged as the dark horse of the T20 World Cup 2026, with its wins built on all-around brilliance. While the batters stepped up in crucial moments, Muzarabani led the attack with the ball. The tall pacer has picked up nine wickets in just three matches at an average of 7.88 and an economy rate of 5.91.

Muzarabani’s spell of 4/17 against Australia in Colombo helped the team clinch a historic win, while his 2/38 against Sri Lanka in a high-scoring contest capped off Zimbabwe's unbeaten group stage. Bowling effectively with both the new ball and at the death, his pace and bounce have troubled top-order batters throughout the tournament.