Get to know the 12 T20 World Cup Teams

Whether you’re a season cricket fan or a novice looking to get invested in the T20 World Cup, here is a brief guide to all twelve teams who will be taking part.

Group A

Netherlands

World ranking: 14

Star player: Sterre Kalis. The only member of the Netherlands squad who is a full-time professional. Powerful batter who can be seen smashing runs for Yorkshire and Birmingham Phoenix

Also watch out for: 

Babette de Leede – the wicketkeeper, batter and captain. Has led this side brilliantly to their first ever T20 World Cup.

Iris Zwilling – Fiery pace bowler who can also strike the ball a long way late in the innings.

What does success look like for this team?

It will be really tough for the Netherlands in this group. Winning one game would be an amazing achievement. And regularly scoring challenging totals of over 150 in all their games would be an ambitious goal.

Bangladesh

World ranking: 10

Star player: Nigar Sultana – captain, batter and wicketkeeper. The GOAT of Bangladesh women’s cricket

Also watch out for: 

Marufa Akter – highly effective pace bowler, only 21 years old

Fahima Khatun – bespectacled 32-year-old spinner with elaborate wicket-taking celebration

What does success look like for this team?

The semi-finals look like a step too far for this team. They would be expected to beat the Netherlands, they would hope to beat Pakistan, but any other win would be a shock. A good tournament would mean some of their players enhance their reputations and earn franchise opportunities on the back of the tournament.

Pakistan

World ranking: 8

Star player: Fatima Sana – Pakistan’s 24-year-old captain is becoming one of the superstars of world cricket. All-rounder and captain, this could be a breakthrough tournament for her.

Also watch out for: 

Sadia Iqbal – experienced left arm spinner. Currently the number two ranked bowler in the world in T20 cricket.

Muneeba Ali – Karachi-born glasses-wearing wicketkeeper batter who scored a century in the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa

What does success look like for this team?

Pakistan are a team on the rise. Their hope and dream would be to beat India and qualify for the semi-finals in their place. In reality, two wins and pushing the “big three” in their group in close matches would be a minimum requirement.

South Africa

World ranking: 5

Star player: Laura Wolvaardt. Already one of the greatest players in the history of women’s cricket, at 27 years old she is at the peak of her powers. Powerful and graceful opening batter, captain and has been in scintillating form in 2026.

Also watch out for: 

Nadine de Klerk – powerful all-rounder who can bowl 4 solid overs of medium pace and hit very quick runs in the middle order.

Kayla Reyneke – precocious 20-year-old all-rounder who caused a sensation when hitting a six to win the game for South Africa on her international début.

What does success look like for this team?

Having reached the last two finals, South Africa will be aiming to lift the trophy. However, they will almost certainly need to beat one of the heavyweights in their group matches to have any chance of getting into the semi-final. Nothing but a first world title will meet their own high expectations. So their group games against Australia and India are pivotal.

India

World ranking: 3

Star player: Smriti Mandhana – India’s highest ever run scorer in T20 internationals, she scored a brilliant 112 from 62 balls against England last summer in a T20 at Trent Bridge.

Also watch out for: 

Kranti Gaud – swing bowler who sensationally broke through on last year’s tour of England. Expect a repeat performance in this World Cup.

Richa Ghosh – powerful wicket-keeper-batter who has played a lot in England in The Hundred

What does success look like for this team?

The cricket-loving public in India will be expecting nothing less than a T20 World Crown to go alongside their recently acquired 50 over World title. This huge pressure has in the past proved counter-productive, but one senses that this India side is a juggernaut which will be difficult to stop. Sometimes they are slow starters in tournaments, so getting through the group could be their biggest challenge.

Australia

World ranking: 1

Star player: Georgia Voll – the number one ranked T20 batter in the world, her 53 ball century against the West Indies showed how fast the 22 year old has developed as a player since breaking into the Australia team in January 2025.

Also watch out for: 

Phoebe Litchfield – Opening batter whose signature switch hit creates huge problems for opposition bowling attacks

Ash Gardner – Highly experienced all-rounder who takes wickets with her accurate off spin and strikes the ball ferociously as a middle order batter.

What does success look like for this team?

Australia are no longer the default red hot favourites and have gone out in the semi finals of the last two World tournaments, knocked out by South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup and then by India in the ODI World Cup in 2025. After changing captain in the last few months, this tournament will be a real test on the leadership of Sophie Molineux. A group stage exit could result in more turmoil in the Australia camp.

Group B

Scotland

World Ranking: 11

Star player: Kathryn Bryce – captain and all-rounder, Bryce is the one who has led this group to two consecutive T20 World Cups. An accurate medium pace bowler and an ultra-reliable batter.

Also look out for:

Kirstie Gordon – hugely experienced left arm spinner returning to the Scotland side after previously playing for England. Gordon played in the T20 World Cup final in 2018.

Ailsa Lister – explosive middle order batter who can add crucial runs at the death.

What does success look like for this team?

“Winning multiple games” is what Kirstie Gordon mentioned as a realistic expectation for Scotland. In reality, a win at Headingley against England would be the best and most joyful thing in the history of Scottish cricket. A group stage exit after some heroic cricket is the most likely outcome, but all the other teams in the group need to be very wary of this talented group.

Ireland

World Ranking: 9

Star player: Orla Prendergast – one of the top all-rounders in world cricket. Capable of devastating bowling spells and match winning innings.

Also look out for: 

Gaby Lewis – captain and star batter. Top T20 international score of 119 made against Sri Lanka in 2024.

Amy Hunter – The 20-year-old from Belfast is a destructive wicketkeeper-batter who famously scored an ODI century on her 16^th birthday.

What does success look like for this team?

Ireland could win more than one game in this World Cup. However, the fitness of captain Gaby Lewis is key to their success. It would be a huge surprise if they came near semi-final qualification, but they are capable of creating an upset on their day. Wins against either West Indies or Sri Lanka are reasonable targets for this team.

Sri Lanka

World Ranking: 7

Star player: Chamari Athapaththu. Without doubt the greatest female cricketer to have put on the Sri Lanka shirt. The all-rounder, at 36 years old is the leader of this team. Capable of winning games on her own with outstanding performances.

Also look out for:

Harshitha Samarawickrama – a powerful batter whose innings of 69 from 51 balls helped to defeat India in the 2024 Asia Cup final.

Kavisha Dilhari – a mercurial off-break bowler and with a top T20i score of 51, more than decent batter. Dilhari is capable of inflicting damage to any opponent in this World Cup.

What does success look like for this team?

Success really means that multiple players put in significant performances across the tournament. Sri Lanka need to be preparing for a post-Athapaththu world, and the development of the next generation is key. If they can beat New Zealand and West Indies they could make the semi-finals. Do not rule out a shock win over a nervy England in the tournament’s opening fixture.

West Indies

World Ranking: 6

Star player: Hayley Matthews – simply the best all-rounder in the world. With Matthews in the side, West Indies have a chance of regaining the trophy that the teenage Matthews inspired them to win a decade ago. 

Also look out for:

Deandra Dottin – the self-proclaimed “World Boss” has the power to turn any game with the ferocity of her hitting

Qiana Joseph – left arm spinner who can hit powerfully as a late middle order batter. Her rapid 52 in the last world cup was enough to knock out England in the group stage.

What does success look like for this team?

In the last T20 World Cup, a shock final group game win over England saw the West Indies qualify for the semi-finals. This will surely be their aim again in the easier of the two groups. Key contributions are needed from across the whole 11 if this is to be achieved in 2026. 

New Zealand

World Ranking: 4

Star player: Sophie Devine. The veteran all-rounder led the Kiwis to World Cup glory in 2024. This is her final tournament before international retirement. Expect some big hitting and vital contributions with the ball.

Also look out for:

Melie Kerr – has stepped into Devine’s shoes as the New Zealand captain and continually enhances her reputation as one of the best all-rounders in the game. She has over 200 international wickets and 6,500 international runs. She has scored a T20 century, an ODI double century and taken a hat-trick. And still only 25 years old.

Maddy Green – the 33 year-old has enjoy a huge career resurgence in the last two years, turning herself into an ultra-reliable run machine. New Zealand will hope that this rich vein of form continues in their World Cup campaign.

What does success look like for this team?

They are the reigning champions, so surely defending the trophy is the only possible definition of success? Nobody but the most ardent White Ferns fan believes they can win it again. They have a great chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, but erratic form over the last few months has left some people doubting whether they can qualify from the group stage. Very unlikely to make the final, which is exactly what everyone thought in 2024.

England

World Ranking: 2

Star player: Nat Sciver-Brunt. England’s captain, when fit, is one of the best batters in world cricket. She can also deliver some handy medium pace bowling. She has over 8000 international runs and nearly 200 international wickets in her 13-year career. England will be hoping that she can regain full fitness before their home world cup campaign begins.

Also look out for:

Alice Capsey – For many years a player who seemed to over-promise and under-deliver, It feels that now, at the age of 21, the former teen prodigy is maturing into a high-class top order batter. If she has a good tournament, England could be destined for the final.

Tilly Corteen-Coleman – the teenager who announced herself as a 16-year-old in the 2024 Hundred competition has forced herself into the England squad just in time for the world cup. Could she be the one who makes the difference in an England team who have underperformed in recent times?  

What does success look like for this team?

The most likely scenario for England is a semi-final loss to South Africa, Australia or India. The next most likely outcome is a group stage exit. However, there is a small chance, if all the stars align, that England could find themselves walking out at Lords for the final on 5th July. This surely is the minimum requirement for Charlotte Edwards’ team. A huge challenge for a much-maligned group of players with a few injury worries. Remember that England always win the tournaments that they host!