The road to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is still long but conversations around India’s core players have already begun to take shape. With a new leadership group in place and expectations sky-high, former India captain Rohit Sharma has shared his thoughts on who could make the biggest difference when it matters the most.
Rohit Sharma, who famously led India to T20 World Cup glory in 2024, believes a 26 years old fast bowler will once again be central to India’s plans in the global event. Speaking on a show focused on India’s preparation for the tournament, Rohit highlighted the importance of Arshdeep Singh for Suryakumar Yadav-led side.
According to Rohit Sharma, Arshdeep Singh’s value lies in his ability to strike early and control key phases of a T20 match. The left-arm pacer from Punjab has built a reputation for swinging the new ball and putting batters under pressure from the very first over. Rohit explained that early wickets can change the direction of a match, especially in a tournament featuring 20 teams, where momentum and quick breakthroughs are crucial.
He also pointed out how effective Arshdeep Singh becomes when paired with Jasprit Bumrah. Together, the duo constantly looks to attack rather than contain, giving India a strong edge both at the start of an innings and in the final overs. Rohit feels Arshdeep’s comfort with the new ball and his calm execution at the death make him a rare and valuable asset in modern T20 cricket.
Rohit Sharma went on to explain how Arshdeep Singh uses swing intelligently against different types of batters. Against left-handers, he looks for movement that brings slip fielders into play, while against right-handers, he targets the pads and has developed the ability to move the ball away as well. These skills, combined with his wicket-taking mindset, are why Arshdeep is often trusted with the first over of the match.
Reflecting on past performances, Rohit Sharma recalled Arshdeep Singh’s impact in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa. He highlighted how dismissing a well-set Quinton de Kock and delivering a near-perfect 19th over helped build pressure at a decisive moment. For Rohit, that performance summed up Arshdeep’s role — delivering under pressure when the game is on the line.
Arshdeep Singh’s numbers back up this belief. He was named the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2024 and finished the T20 World Cup as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets from eight matches, underlining his consistency on the biggest stage.
Beyond fast bowling, Rohit Sharma also touched upon India’s spin options for 2026. He acknowledged that fitting both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy into the playing XI would be a challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir. However, he admitted he would be tempted to play both, as their wicket-taking ability and mystery make life difficult for batters who struggle to read them.
As India looks ahead to another World Cup campaign, Rohit makes one thing clear — Arshdeep Singh is the player to look for.
Do you agree with Rohit Sharma?
