Who Could Shine? Top Five T20 World Cup Players to Watch

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1540 EAT on Friday 6 February 2026

Al Jazeera Sport previews five star players aiming to lead their teams to the T20 World Cup final on March 8, 2026.
Abhishek Sharma – India
Since being signed by the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League at just 17, Abhishek Sharma has captured the attention of the cricketing world.

Now 25, the left-handed opener has established himself as one of the most feared T20 batters globally, entering the tournament with a strike rate close to 200 across 38 T20 international matches. Born in Punjab, Sharma has yet to feature in India’s Test or ODI sides, but he has already amassed two centuries and eight fifties in T20 internationals, cementing his reputation as a dynamic force at the top of the order.

Since his debut, Abrar has taken 116 wickets for Pakistan, including 46 in T20 internationals at an impressive average of 17 and an economy rate just under seven. Persistent back injuries, which hampered his early development and delayed his international debut, have been the greatest challenge of his career. Both Abrar and Pakistan will be hoping those setbacks are now firmly behind him as he takes the field.

Arguably England’s most exciting talent, Harry Brook also has the potential to be their most explosive. The 26-year-old batter has already earned 134 caps for his country, scoring 13 centuries along the way, and was part of England’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2022.

Glenn Maxwell has long been one of white-ball cricket’s brightest stars. His talent was on spectacular display at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, when, despite struggling with injury, he carried Australia into the semifinals with an unbeaten double century.

Known as “The Big Show” well before that memorable knock, the 37-year-old has been a mainstay in the Indian Premier League and one of its top earners. With 281 international appearances to his name, Maxwell remains one of the game’s most dynamic match-winners, and even with age on his side, he could still deliver game-changing performances for Australia in India and Sri Lanka.