T20 World Cup 2026: India is peaking at the right time?
Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar believes that the Indian side is hitting top gear at precisely the right stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. His comments come in the lead-up to India’s final Group-stage encounter against the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the knockout rounds fast approaching, Bangar feels the team’s rhythm and confidence are aligning perfectly. He noted that India’s performances have steadily improved as the tournament has progressed, reflecting a side that is adapting well to conditions and learning quickly from each outing. In particular, Bangar highlighted the team’s display in Colombo, where he described the pitch as challenging and not entirely batting-friendly.
T20 World Cup 2026: Sanjay Bangar talks about India's momentum
Despite that, India delivered a clinical performance, underlining their growing maturity and tactical awareness. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India have already booked their place in the Super Eight stage. A dominant 61-run win over Pakistan in Colombo strengthened their campaign, following earlier convincing victories against the USA and Namibia. According to Bangar, this upward trajectory suggests that India are building momentum at the ideal moment in the competition.
"India has now picked up momentum. It seems that, looking at how the first match went, then the second, and in my opinion the third match as well, India played in a very impressive manner. In a tough situation, on a difficult pitch, they posted a good score. They batted well against quality spinners, which had been a concern earlier because in the first two matches wickets fell against spin. But when you face 18 overs of spin on that kind of surface and still manage to bat so well, and then dismiss the opposition cheaply, I think the Indian team is peaking at just the right time,” stated former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar.
The former India batting coach further remarked that the hosts are expected to relish the batting conditions in Ahmedabad. He pointed out that the surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium traditionally offers true bounce and consistent pace, factors that generally favour stroke-makers. Such conditions, he suggested, allow batters to trust the pitch and play their shots with freedom, rather than second-guessing variable movement or uneven carry.
According to him, a venue like Ahmedabad suits India’s current batting line-up, which thrives on timing, intent, and aggressive stroke play. With players who are comfortable taking the aerial route and manipulating gaps through innovative shot selection, the team could find the setting ideal to post or chase down imposing totals. He added that familiarity with home conditions and crowd support may further boost the players’ confidence, giving India an added psychological edge heading into the crucial fixture.
“The Indian batsmen will enjoy batting here because the conditions are very good for batting. So far, the Indian team has batted first in all their matches. As far as I think, it’s possible they might have to chase in this match. But if they do have to chase, I’m not expecting such a big score to be chased. So, it will be another match where the team will want to play good cricket and maintain their consistency,” Bangar added.
Sanjay Bangar believes that India might consider bringing Arshdeep Singh into the playing XI in place of Kuldeep Yadav for the upcoming clash against the Netherlands, depending on the surface and overall team balance. He suggested that the final decision would likely hinge on pitch conditions in Ahmedabad and whether the management opts for an additional pace option over a specialist spinner. Team combination, he noted, will play a crucial role, especially with the Super Eight stage around the corner.
India and the Netherlands have met once before in T20 World Cup history, during the 2022 edition of the tournament. On that occasion, India delivered a commanding performance, securing a comfortable 56-run victory. As they prepare to face each other again, India will aim to maintain their dominant record, while also fine-tuning their combination ahead of the knockout rounds.
"So I think when the Indian team plays in Ahmedabad, they could add a pace bowling option, and Arshdeep will likely come in place of Kuldeep. Siraj was essentially a backup for Jasprit Bumrah, and he has performed well. The team’s bench strength is good, so no one will mind because in a World Cup-type competition, the team combination matters more than how many matches a player has played," Bangar concluded.
