Vaughan Snubs South Africa, Picks “Surprise” Final 4 for 2026 T20 World Cup
MUMBAI — The phoney war is over. With just five days until the first ball is bowled in the 2026 T20 World Cup, the predictions are flying, and former England captain Michael Vaughan has just thrown a grenade into the conversation. Vaughan has officially locked in his semifinalists, and while he’s backing the defending champions, he’s left out the 2024 runners-up entirely.
Vaughan’s call comes immediately after India dismantled New Zealand 4-1 in a home series that looked less like a contest and more like a statement of intent.
Vaughan’s “Big 4” Prediction
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Vaughan didn’t mince words. He snubbed South Africa—the team that pushed India to the brink in the 2024 final—in favor of a New Zealand side that many critics wrote off six months ago.
His predicted semifinalists:
- India (Defending Champs)
- England (2010, 2022 Winners)
- Australia (2021 Winners)
- New Zealand (The Wildcard)
The exclusion of the Proteas is the headline here. Despite their powerhouse lineup, Vaughan is clearly swayed by current form. India’s recent domination—winning the 2025 Asia Cup and crushing Australia 2-1 Down Under late last year—has made them the automatic first pick on everyone’s draft board.
Ponting: “India Are Clear Favorites”
If Vaughan is stirring the pot, Ricky Ponting is looking at the cold, hard stats. The former Australian skipper, never one to give praise lightly, labeled the Men in Blue as the undisputed team to beat. Speaking to the ICC, Ponting highlighted the depth of the squad Suryakumar Yadav has at his disposal.
“India probably start the clear favorites… due to conditions, the talent, and the group of players that they have put together. They’ll be hard to beat, but I really do think we will see Australia there come semi-final time.” — Ricky Ponting, via ICC
Ponting went a step further in a separate interaction, specifically pointing to young opener Abhishek Sharma as a potential Player of the Tournament. Sharma has been electric in the warm-ups, and Ponting believes his aggressive style at the top is the X-factor India lacked in previous campaigns.
The Form Guide: Why NZ?
Vaughan’s pick of New Zealand might seem like a gamble, but the Black Caps have quietly reassembled a dangerous unit. Despite losing the recent series to India 4-1, the individual brilliance of players like Glenn Phillips and the tactical acumen of skipper Mitchell Santner have evidently caught Vaughan’s eye.
Meanwhile, the “Pakistan Boycott” whispers continue to swirl around the marquee February 15 clash in Colombo, adding a layer of off-field drama that is impossible to ignore. But for now, the focus remains on the cricket.
Opening Week Fixtures
The road to the final in Ahmedabad begins this week. Here is the slate to watch:
- Feb 7 (Group A): India vs. USA (Mumbai)
- Feb 8 (Group D): New Zealand vs. Afghanistan (Chennai)
- Feb 11 (Group B): Australia vs. Ireland (Colombo)
