![Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav with T20 World Cup trophy [Source: BCCI/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1773036500058_SanjuSamsonArshdeepSinghT20WorldCup.jpg?type=hq)
Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav with T20 World Cup trophy [Source: BCCI/X.com]
The ghosts of the World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad were buried on Sunday night as Suryakumar Yadav’s India lifted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The third title in the shortest format takes India’s World Cup tally to five, including two fifty-over trophies.
A couple of key instigators in India’s last two T20 titles include the leading wicket-taker from 2024, Arshdeep Singh and the Player of the Tournament in 2026, Sanju Samson. The duo were a part of both trophy wins, which caught the attention of many with an interesting pattern on display — a thread that ties all five of India’s world titles. Below is the breakdown of the pattern.
What is common between India’s five World titles?
So far, since 1983, all five of India’s World Cup wins have featured at least a player from Sardar origin and another one from Kerala origin. It started with the duo of Balwinder Sandhu and Sunil Valson in 1983, and Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson have been the latest pair, who have kept the tradition going.
Sardar and Kerala-origin players in India’s World Cup wins:
- World Cup 1983 – Sunil Valson and Balwinder Sandhu
- T20 World Cup 2007 and World Cup 2011 – Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh
- T20 World Cup 2024 and 2026 – Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh
Also Read: Watch- Arshdeep Singh Pulls Suryakumar Yadav Aside, Then Pushes Him At New Zealand Players
Samson and Arshdeep’s instrumental contributions in T20 World Cups
Sanju Samson had been through a torrid ride in the lead-up to the T20 mega event at home. The Kerala-based player was roped in to break the monotony of left-handers in the top-3 after a few poor outings for the top order, and went on a berserk run-scoring form.
In all three must-win matches to lift the trophy in 2026, Samson scored 97* (50) vs West Indies, 89 (42) and 89 (46), which helped him win the Player of the Tournament award with 321 runs in 5 innings. In 2024, he had unfortunately warmed the bench throughout the tournament, similar to Sunil Valson in 1983.
With the ball, Arshdeep picked 9 wickets in 8 innings in 2026. In the previous edition, he was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 8 innings. He picked a crucial 2/20 in 4 overs against South Africa as well.
India’s focus shifts to longer formats
Having won successive T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026 with an ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, India are now the holders of 2/3 white-ball ICC titles.
The eyes will now be on ODI cricket with the World Cup 2027 as the primary focus, especially with the star duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only playing one format. They will play Afghanistan in three ODIs in June, followed by the tours of England and New Zealand later in the year.
On the Test front, after managing four wins in nine Tests of the World Test Championship 2025-27, they are at number 6 on the points table for the cycle. The tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be must-win for them to stay alive in the race to the final of the only ICC title missing from their cabinet.
After Arshdeep Singh’s recent rise, the left-arm quick may earn his Test debut in the coming season after warming the bench in the England 2025 tour. On the other hand, Samson will be eyeing the second wicketkeeper spot in the ODI squad. The last time he played an ODI, he scored a match-winning 108 (114) in Paarl against South Africa.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan Suffered Death In Family 1 Day Before T20 World Cup Final, Shocking Details Out
.jpg?type=mq "Ishan Kishan's personal battle")
.jpg?type=mq "Politicians react to India's World T20 win")
