How effective will be Indian spinners in T20 World Cup 2026?

Former India captain Anil Kumble believes dew will be a factor in the upcoming T20 World Cup, but he doesn’t see it posing a major challenge for most of India’s spinners. According to the legendary leg-spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel have the skill sets to cope well, even when the ball gets slippery under lights.

In a recent interaction, Kumble pointed out that matches scheduled in the evening during February and March are likely to see significant dew. While bowling with a wet ball is never ideal, he stressed that spinners are generally accustomed to such conditions.

Kumble feels Varun, in particular, is unlikely to be affected much because of the strong grip he generates on the ball and the speed at which he bowls. Though he admitted it’s not the same as operating with a dry ball, he doesn’t expect Varun to struggle. Axar Patel, too, should manage comfortably in similar circumstances.

However, Kumble noted that Kuldeep Yadav could find it slightly tougher to adjust due to his style of bowling, which relies more on finesse. That said, he was quick to add that Kuldeep has plenty of experience bowling in dewy conditions and should be able to adapt.

Looking ahead to the tournament as a whole, Kumble highlighted how difficult it is to defend a T20 World Cup title, pointing out that no team has managed to do so yet. Still, he sees this as a golden opportunity for India.

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Given the team’s current form and the depth in the squad, Kumble believes India are capable of handling any challenge that comes their way. He expects them to at least reach the semi-finals, after which anything can happen.

Ultimately, Kumble is optimistic about India’s chances and feels they are well placed to lift the trophy once again, making history by winning back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.