Cricket predictions: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup outright picks

The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is nearly upon us, with a total of 20 teams preparing to battle it out across India and Sri Lanka in what promises to be a month of enthralling action.

Co-hosts India are the defending champions after edging out South Africa in a dramatic final in Barbados two years ago and will be the team to beat once more, particularly in home conditions.

The expanded number of participants, introduced for the 2024 edition, will once again provide the opportunity for a number of associate nations to showcase themselves on the big stage, including tournament debutants Italy, who are ranked 28th in the world and will meet England in Group C.

As for England, leadership duo Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook will begin the tournament under immense pressure following the Ashes disappointment and will look to overcome previous disappointment in the sub-continent, which included a miserable 50-over World Cup defence in 2023 and the heartbreak at the hands of Carlos Brathwaite in the 2016 World T20 final.

The T20 World Cup begins on February 7, with Pakistan and Netherlands contesting the tournament opener in Colombo.

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Can anybody stop India?

India are unsurprisingly the current pre-tournament favourites to defend their crown at 11/8 on Sky Bet, having established themselves firmly as the dominant force in white-ball cricket over recent years.

They were flawless across both their 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy campaigns – only a Travis Head masterclass in the 2023 World Cup final away from holding all three white-ball titles – and have won 10 of their previous 12 bilateral T20 series.

Even without legends Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma this time around, the squad still looks a rather formidable one with match-winners in every department – difficult to look past becoming the first nation in the competition’s history to secure consecutive titles.

Mentality monsters Australia aiming for more success

At 4/1, Australia are tipped to be India’s closest challengers as they look to follow up their convincing Ashes victory Down Under with more major honours.

Since winning the competition in 2021, the Aussies failed to reach the semi-final stage in 2022 and 2024 but did triumph in the 2023 World Cup in India as they now face another attempt to double-up their trophies and become the second team after England in 2022 to hold world champions status in both white-ball formats.

There are still some fitness concerns around their bowling attack and are without Mitchell Starc, who retired from T20I’s last year, but the batting lineup looks a destructive one with plenty of IPL experience to draw upon – expected to be thereabouts.

A change of fortunes for England?

Harry Brook prepares to lead England into a major ICC event for the first time as white-ball captain, already feeling the heat after recent on-field performances and off-field headlines.

Despite reaching the semi-final stage in 2024, their defence was an uninspiring one and their recent record across white-ball formats has been far from convincing, but they do possess the batting personnel and spin options that warrants their current 9/2 price.

Smashing over 300 against South Africa at Old Trafford in September was a reminder of their capability, but it is their application in sub-continent conditions that will be the acid test after a hugely disappointing performance across India and Pakistan in early 2025 – a competitive showing much-needed for many within the English cricket setup.

Will New Zealand or South Africa finally end their wait for white-ball glory?

The Kiwis and Proteas have both punched above their weight to reach the summit in Test cricket over recent years, but tournament success in the limited overs formats has continued to prove elusive, despite the calibre of white-ball stars produced.

South Africa will still be haunted by their narrow defeat to India in the 2024 final, needing only 26 runs from 24 balls before capitulating, whilst New Zealand have been runners-up on four occasions across ICC events since 2015.

Both sides once again look well-placed for another trophy bid, with South Africa’s exciting crop of players led by Aiden Markram priced at 6/1 and Mitchell Santner’s ever-dependable New Zealand side a very appealing value at 11/1 – the pair meet in Ahmedabad on February 14 in one of the standout group stage fixtures.

What about an outsider?

Even in the unpredictable world of T20 cricket, an underdog winner appears a far stretch.

Afghanistan (25/1) were the big story from two years ago as they defeated New Zealand and Australia on their way to the final four and they will need to produce similar heroics once again in a difficult-looking Group D, alongside the Kiwis and South Africa.

2009 winners Pakistan and two-time champions West Indies are not considered to be major players at 16/1 and 20/1 respectively, whilst the co-hosts Sri Lanka, who have not made it to the knockout stages since they won in 2014, are at a huge 40/1.

Five nations find themselves at odds of 1,000/1 (Italy, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands and UAE), and whilst progressing from the group stage would seem a huge task in itself, they will certainly all fancy themselves to cause a major upset just as USA memorably did to Pakistan in 2024.

READ MORE: England beaten in first ODI as Sri Lanka spinners dominate