Two Indian players feature in the chart.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is inching closer, and the teams are gearing up in full swing. But a few players are struggling with injury concerns and are competing in a race against time to be fit for the 20-over championship. India and Sri Lanka will co-host the tournament, scheduled to kick off on February 7.
All T20 World Cup 2026 Squads: Every Squad Named for the Upcoming ICC Tournament
Let’s look at the players who are doubtful to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
The 23-year-old is a mainstay in the India T20I squad. Tilak Varma was in great touch during South Africa T20Is, notching up 187 runs in four matches. But an abdominal injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has made his participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 doubtful. He has been sidelined from three out of five fixtures of India’s T20I series against New Zealand, and Shreyas Iyer has been added to the squad. But a late recovery might see him ruled out of the defending champions’ squad.
Check the full India squad for T20 World Cup 2026 here
The reigning champions could be struck by another injury blow in the form of Washington Sundar. The all-rounder was ruled out of India’s ODI series against the Black Caps after suffering a side strain in the series opener. Ayush Badoni was added to the squad as a replacement for the remaining two matches. However, Ravi Bishnoi was included in the Men in Blue’s T20I squad for the rest of the white-ball series. This poses a significant threat of Sundar missing out on the hosts’ squad for their T20 title defence.
After Washington Sundar, Axar Patel is another all-rounder to be added to India’s injury list before the ICC tournament. During the IND vs NZ 1st T20I, Axar injured his finger while stopping a ball hit hard by Daryl Mitchell off his own bowling. However, the ball ricocheted off his fingers, and later, blood could be seen coming out of his hand. He subsequently had to leave the field and did not return later.
The stand-in skipper, Michael Bracewell, also picked up an injury in his left calf while fielding in the India vs New Zealand ODI series decider. The blow kept him on the sidelines for the entire match as Daryl Mitchell took up the leadership duties for the game. However, the New Zealand cricket board is yet to release any further statement on the all-rounder’s injury status ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Check the updated New Zealand squad for T20 World Cup 2026 here
Another New Zealand player, who is currently featuring in the SA20 2026, might miss out on playing in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) pacer sustained a hamstring injury while bowling his first over of the game against the MI Cape Town last night. Tristan Stubbs completed the remaining over as Adam Milne left the field after just three deliveries.
Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins is yet to recover fully from his lumbar bone stress injury that kept him away from action during the Ashes 2025. The pacer made a brief comeback during the third Test and bagged six wickets. However, the team’s chief selector, George Bailey, has confirmed that the 32-year-old will miss the starting matches of the T20 World Cup 2026. If the bowler manages to recover on time, he will join the 2021 champions before their third or fourth group-stage match of the league. Notably, his last appearance in the format had come against India during the T20 World Cup 2024.
Check the full Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026 here
Josh Hazlewood was another key Australian pacer to miss the Ashes 2025 series. He was ruled out of the five-match series at home after suffering a hamstring injury during the Sheffield Shield fixture between New South Wales and Victoria. The seamer is currently on rehab and will miss the T20I series against Pakistan, alongside Cummins, before the T20 World Cup 2026. But Bailey has backed the bowler to regain his match fitness ahead of the mega ICC event.
The Aussie powerhouse pulled his hamstring in the ongoing BBL 2025-26. Tim David was batting well for Hobart Hurricanes throughout the season, amassing 98 runs in four games. He retired out during the fixture against the Perth Scorchers, leaving the field with an unbeaten 42 off 28. While George Bailey has assured that David will return to action before the T20 World Cup 2026, confirmation awaits.
With Australia already facing several injury worries, Nathan Ellis remains part of the squad. The Hobart Hurricanes confirmed he suffered an injury against the Brisbane Heat in the BBL, though the details were not revealed. He will miss the Knockout match against the Melbourne Stars. With under three weeks remaining before the World Cup, Australia will be hoping for a speedy recovery.
The South African all-rounder is a new addition to the list of probable absentees for the T20 World Cup 2026. The Joburg Super Kings captain has recently been sidelined from the remaining SA20 2026 matches after suffering a shoulder injury during their last encounter against the Pretoria Capitals. However, the severity of his injury is yet to be known.
Proteas batter Tony de Zorzi is another name who is doubtful for his participation at the ICC event. The top-order batter picked up a hamstring injury during the India ODI series last December and has since been out of action. He was ruled out of the ongoing SA20 season too and is currently in a race against time to be fit for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Check the updated South Africa squad for T20 World Cup 2026 here
The left-hander picked up a groin injury in the ongoing SA20 26 while fielding for the Paarl Royals in their last league match. He has, however, travelled with the Royals team for their playoff match against Joburg Super Kings, and a final call on his availability is yet to be taken. The development will also give an idea about his chances of featuring in the T20 World Cup 2026.
The Proteas pace is another name to be added to the long list of injury concerns for South Africa at the global event. He was seen with heavy strapping ahead of the playoffs match between Pretoria Capitals (PC) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC). However, the PC bowler could bowl only two overs before walking off the field.
The right-arm pacer who was ruled out of India Test series remains sidelined for the ongoing Afghanistan T20Is and the upcoming South Africa series. Expectedly, Alzarri Joseph will miss the T20 World Cup 2026 as well due to a lower-back injury. His absence will affect West Indies’ chances in the multi-national tournament. There is no update as to when the 29-year-old would return to action.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is also in doubt. The left-arm bowler was ruled out during his maiden stint in the Big Bash League after picking up a knee injury. Shaheen scalped two wickets in four matches for Brisbane Heat, at an expensive economy rate of 11.19. But he has been consistent for Pakistan, snaring 17 scalps in the last 10 T20Is. As per the reports, the 25-year-old is likely to get fit in time to lead the side’s pace attack.
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