Aakash Chopra picks West Indies’ probable playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026, predicts their exit stage

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked the West Indies’ probable playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2026. He opined that the two-time champions would get knocked out in the Super Eights stage of the tournament.

The West Indies are placed in Group C for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. England, Nepal, Italy and Scotland are the other four teams in their group.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener reckoned that the West Indies‘ playing XI would likely have a plethora of all-rounders, two left-arm spinners, and a solitary specialist seamer.

“The XI could be like this – Brandon King, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie and Jayden Seales,” he said.

Chopra predicted that the West Indies would qualify for the Super Eights in the T20 World Cup 2026 but would get eliminated at that stage.

“Bangladesh was in their group earlier. Now Bangladesh is not there. Scotland have come in their place. So I am saying England and the West Indies to go through to the next round. However, after that, they will be in India’s group – India, Australia, South Africa and the West Indies. That is where their journey should end. They should cross the first round and should stop in the second round,” he observed.

The West Indies are clubbed alongside the T20 World Cup 2024 finalists, India and South Africa, and Australia as per the pre-tournament seedings. It is being considered the tougher Super Eights group on paper if all four teams reach that stage.

“You have to come to defend that legacy” – Aakash Chopra on the opportunity for West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the T20 World Cup 2026 presents the West Indies with an opportunity to regain their glory.

“They have an extremely beautiful past. You won the first two ODI World Cups. If we talk about T20 World Cups, there also they have won two. It is a team that can actually win. So you have to come to defend that legacy, and that is a huge opportunity for everybody involved,” he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that the Shai Hope-led side will likely depend on individual brilliance in the batting department and rely more on spin while bowling.

“What could be their strategy? They will probably still rely more on individual brilliance. Whoever is playing might play such a knock that leaves everyone behind. In bowling, of course, you have to play as a unit. I don’t see too much fast bowling from them. I feel they will use spin more,” Chopra observed.

To conclude, Aakash Chopra reckoned that Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder might bowl the death overs for the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026. He added that Akeal Hosein might operate with the new ball.