Proteas captain Aiden Markram has been named captain of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament, with teammate Lungi Ngidi also earning selection after standout performances. Picture Credit: Espncricinfo.com
By Aisha Zardad
Proteas captain Aiden Markram has been named skipper of the official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament.
Markram is one of two South Africans included in the side, alongside fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, after both played key roles in the Proteas’ strong campaign.
The Proteas captain scored 286 runs during the tournament, including three half-centuries, and guided his team to seven consecutive victories before their semi-final defeat to New Zealand.
Although Markram opened the batting throughout the competition, the ICC judging panel opted to place him at number four in the middle order. The panel included broadcasters Ian Bishop, Natalie Germanos and Eoin Morgan, ICC representative Gaurav Saxena, and sports journalist Rex Clementine.
Ngidi also impressed with the ball, taking 12 wickets at an average of 15.58. His standout performances included four wickets against Canada and three each against Afghanistan and the West Indies. He also produced a tight spell against India, conceding just 15 runs in four overs.
Another South African-born seamer, Shadley van Schalkwyk, earned recognition as the tournament’s 12th player after an impressive campaign for the USA. Van Schalkwyk finished with 13 wickets and maintained an economy rate of 6.80.
India dominate the selection, four members of the victorious Indian team were named in the side, including Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson.
The opener scored 321 runs from five innings and delivered key performances throughout the competition. Samson began the tournament outside the starting XI but quickly made an impact with Player of the Match displays against the West Indies and England. He capped off the tournament with 89 in the final against New Zealand — the highest individual score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final.
He is joined by teammates Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.
Kishan scored 317 runs — the fourth most in the tournament — while maintaining an impressive strike rate of 193.29. His performances helped anchor India’s batting line-up, including a commanding 77 against Pakistan and a half-century in the final.
All-rounder Pandya earned selection for his contributions with both bat and ball. He scored two half-centuries, including a 52 off 28 balls against Namibia, while also taking nine wickets during the tournament.
Bumrah finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets from eight matches. The paceman delivered a decisive performance in the final, claiming four wickets for 15 runs and maintaining an economy rate of 6.21 throughout the tournament.
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan topped the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 383 runs at an average of 76.60. His campaign included two centuries against Sri Lanka and Namibia.
England’s Will Jacks was selected for his all-round contributions, including a crucial unbeaten 32 off 18 balls and figures of two for 23 against New Zealand. His teammate Adil Rashid also earned selection after claiming 13 wickets at an average of 14.15.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder secured a place in the side after delivering strong performances with both bat and ball. Holder took three wickets against Scotland and four against Nepal before contributing with the bat during the Super Eights stage.
Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani completes the team after spearheading his side’s impressive group stage campaign. Muzarabani claimed four wickets for 17 runs in Zimbabwe’s victory over Australia and finished the group stage with nine wickets.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament
- Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
- Sanju Samson (wk) (India)
- Ishan Kishan (India)
- Aiden Markram (captain) (South Africa)
- Hardik Pandya (India)
- Will Jacks (England)
- Jason Holder (West Indies)
- Jasprit Bumrah (India)
- Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)
- Adil Rashid (England)
- Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe)
- Shadley van Schalkwyk (USA)
