Mumbai, Nov 25 (NationPress) In the past, Indian cricketers and their supporters dreamed of clinching an ICC tournament title by defeating Pakistan in the final. However, times have transformed, and India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his desire on Tuesday to triumph in the Men's T20 World Cup 2026 by overcoming Australia in the final match.

When prompted to choose a rival that India would prefer to face in a hypothetical final to claim the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Surya confidently named Australia. "Ideally, if the final takes place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, I envision India defeating Australia and seizing the championship," he remarked during an ICC event aimed at unveiling the complete schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Aside from the escalating rivalry between India and Australia, another motivation for SKY is the chance to avenge India's loss to Australia in the final of the Men's ODI World Cup 2023, which also took place at the same venue.

Harmanpreet Kaur, who recently led India to victory in the Women's ODI World Cup in nearby Navi Mumbai, echoed a similar sentiment, expressing her wish for India to defeat Australia for the title. She noted that the emerging rivalry between India and Australia adds excitement to the contest, and triumphing against a formidable opponent brings a unique satisfaction. Harmanpreet's team had earlier defeated Australia in the semifinals before clinching the championship against South Africa last month.

Conversely, Rohit Sharma, who captained India in the 50-over World Cup final loss to Australia in 2023, later guided the team to victory in the T20 World Cup in 2024. He stated his desire for India to win the championship, irrespective of the opponent.

"While I agree with Surya regarding the changing rivalries and the ideal scenario of defeating Australia in the final, my ultimate wish is for India to win the title, regardless of the opponent," remarked Rohit Sharma, who was announced as the ICC Brand Ambassador for the event.

All three Indian captains acknowledged the challenge ahead, as the competition has expanded to 20 teams, and T20 cricket is known for its unpredictability where any team can cause an upset.

Harmanpreet Kaur shared her experience of winning the title on home soil, hoping the men's team would replicate that success. She emphasized the importance of fan support, recalling how it uplifted her team after three consecutive losses in the Cup 2025. "The fans have always been our backbone at home; it was heartening to witness such a turnout for the women's matches," she added.