The much-awaited 2026 T20 World Cup is underway in India and Sri Lanka. A total of 20 teams are taking part in the tournament, including Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh at the last minute. A total of 52 games will be played ahead of the semifinals and final. The Netherlands are playing against Pakistan in the opening match of the ICC event. Defending champions India will begin their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7. Take a look at the four groups:
- Group A – India, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan, and the USA
- Group B – Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
- Group C – England, Italy, Nepal, Scotland, and the West Indies
- Group D – Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UAE
Here are five former players who participated in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and are now coaching the teams at the 2026 edition of the ICC tournament.
Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir played the 2007 T20 World Cup, helping India win the inaugural title. The left-handed batter emerged as the second-highest run-getter, amassing 227 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 129.71, including three half-centuries. The southpaw smashed 75 runs off 54 balls with the help of two sixes and eight boundaries in the final against Pakistan, where the Men in Blue emerged victorious by five runs.
As a coach, Gambhir has guided Team India to seven consecutive T20I series after taking over the reins from Rahul Dravid. Under Gambhir’s coaching, India also won the 2025 Asia Cup. After winning the 2025 Champions Trophy, he will now aim to help India become the first team to win a T20 World Cup on home soil.
Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya also represented Sri Lanka in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The southpaw amassed 154 runs in five innings at a stunning strike rate of 160.42, comprising two half-centuries. With the ball, he took four wickets in four innings at an economy rate of 7.94. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka failed to reach the semifinals.
Jayasuriya will have to turn things around for Sri Lanka after they lost the recently concluded T20I series against England 0-3. They also managed to tie their previous series against Pakistan 1-1. Sri Lanka are placed alongside Australia, Oman, Zimbabwe, and Ireland in Group B.
Brendon McCullum
England‘s head coach, Brendon McCullum, also played the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter scored 139 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 121.93. His efforts helped the Black Caps reach the semifinal.
After losing the Ashes 1-4, McCullum has helped England turn things around by winning the T20I series in Sri Lanka 3-0. He will now look to silence the critics by helping the two-time champions deliver in the 2026 edition of the T20 tournament. They are placed in an easy Group C, which includes Italy, Nepal, Scotland, and the West Indies.
Daren Sammy
Daren Sammy was part of the West Indies squad for the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup, but he didn’t get a game during the entire tournament. The all-rounder, however, represented WI in 68 T20Is, picking up 44 wickets and scoring 587 runs.
Like McCullum, Sammy has a point to prove in the 2026 T20 World Cup. West Indies, the two-time winners, have lost their last three T20I series to South Africa (1-2), Afghanistan (1-2), and New Zealand (1-3). With no Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine in the squad, Sammy will have to bring the best out of the other players.
Morne Morkel
India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, also played the 2007 T20 World Cup. The South African pacer took nine wickets in five games at an economy rate of 6.0 with best figures of 4/17 against New Zealand. However, the Proteas failed to reach the semifinals in the T20 tournament that year.
With big guns like Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj in the Indian squad, Morkel will be optimistic that the Men in Blue lift the 2026 T20 World Cup. Under his stint, India have already lifted the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Edited by James Kuanal
