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Michael Clarke gives T20 World Cup 2026 prediction [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @CricketFaizan/x]
Michael Clarke has given his take regarding the possible fate of the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month. While predicting the finalists of the tournament, the former Australia captain excluded Pakistan and picked one of the two co-hosts, Team India instead.
Michael Clarke also believes that the rivalry between India and Pakistan no longer holds the same intensity which it once used to, considering the ‘Men in Blue’ have enjoyed consistent dominance over their arch-rivals in recent ICC and Asia Cup events.
Michael Clarke predicts T20 World Cup 2026 finalists
While speaking on Beyond23 Cricket podcast, Michael Clarke picked Team India as one of the finalists of next month’s 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The former Australian skipper further picked Australia as the other finalist of the tournament.
Notably, the last time these two sides met in a senior men’s ICC final was during the 2023 ICC World Cup final back in November 2023 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. In what was widely billed as a clash of equals, Australia silenced a partisan Ahmedabad crowd, halted India’s unbeaten juggernaut courtesy of a splendid Travis Head century and through some tight bowling displays from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Nonetheless, the Indian team is placed in Group A of the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup alongside Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands and USA. The ‘Men in Blue’, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, will start out as defending champions, having lifted the 2024 edition in the USA back in June 2024.
The Australian cricket team, on the other hand, is placed in Group B of the competition alongside Ireland, Oman, co-hosts Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Michael Clarke says India vs Pakistan has lost its edge
Michael Clarke also claimed that the India vs Pakistan rivalry has lost its competitive edge over the past few years. The former cricketer added that the Pakistan team needs to deal with the pressure in a bid to level up with India.
He said, “India has outplayed them over a long period of time. Pakistan has not even been close. Pakistan needs to be able to deal with the pressure of playing India and that rivalry.”
Compatible to Michael Clarke’s claims, Team India is on an eight-match winning streak against Pakistan since the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Even in the previous meeting between the two sides, India crushed Pakistan thrice in a row, all during the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE last year.
India and Pakistan will now square off in match number 27 of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month. Their highly-anticipated Group A match will be hosted by the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The action is slated to commence from 7:00 PM IST onwards on Sunday, February 15.
With history, form and rivalry narratives converging once again, the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash promises to be one of the defining fixtures of the tournament.
