England (Winners 2010 and 2022)
The defending champions will look for a record third title in this tournament. In the last tournament in Australia, they peaked at the right time to lift their second. Since then, the team has been on a downward slide. They had a disastrous outing in the 50-over World Cup last year, where they failed to put up a fight. The T20 squad has a strong group of players who have done well in T20 tournaments in different corners of the world. Jos Buttler likes leading from the front and will like strong performances from his senior players. With several power hitters in the team, they are among the top contenders for the title.
Squad: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood
India (Winners 2007)
The Indians won the inaugural title in 2007, but the silverware has eluded the side since that euphoric win in South Africa. They reached the semifinal last year but succumbed to the pressure. They are among the favorites to win the title on most cricket betting sites and have the right mix of youth and experience. It will be an important tournament for the Indians after losing at home in the 50-over World Cup final. They have failed to win crunch games at ICC events for over a decade and must overcome this jinx. Rohit Sharma returns as captain for this tournament and would like his team to play aggressively and take opponents head-on.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
Australia (Winners 2021)
The ICC World Cup winners would look to add another jewel to their crown. They have the skills and temperament to go far and defeat any side. Among all the teams in this tournament, they are the fittest and have maximum depth in their batting and bowling. They failed to qualify beyond the knockout stage in the last tournament at home and shall look to put that upset behind them. The team has powerful strikers and one of the best bowling attacks. Mitchell Marsh has successfully led the side in this format for the last couple of years, and he looks to get the best out of his players.
Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
South Africa (Semifinalist 2009 and 2014)
The South Africans have always been unlucky at ICC events. They have made it to the semifinal twice in the T20 World Cup but haven’t gone any further. They failed to go beyond the second round in the last edition. They have a strong squad with a batting lineup that can destroy bowling attacks. Aiden Markram has led the side for a while and knows the strengths of all his players. He will aim to end the title draught with a good show in this tournament. They must overcome their inability to win crunch games and play every game confidently and aggressively.
Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeze Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
New Zealand (Runner-up 2021)
The Kiwis have been the most unlucky team in the last three editions. They have been in the semifinals twice and finished runner-up in 2021. They have come close to winning the trophy, only to see their hopes dented at the last moment. Kane Williamson would look to bring an end to these near misses. They are one of the dark horses this season and have depth in their batting and bowling lineups. Among the major teams in this tournament, New Zealand has one of the most energetic squads and the resources to surprise their bigger opponents on any given day.
Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
West Indies (Winners 2012 and 2016)
The West Indies will be under pressure to perform well in this edition. The two-time champions didn’t qualify for the 50-over world, one of the lowest points for the side. The team has struggled with consistency in recent years, and Rovman Powell would like a clinical performance from his players. But they are one of the strongest teams in the T20 format and have one of the most destructive batting lineups. Most of their players are regulars in different T20 leagues across the world, and the team would expect to leverage this experience and win the title for the third time.
Squad: Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
Sri Lanka (Winners 2014)
The Sri Lankans won the title in 2014, and the team has been on a downward slide since then. They have failed to move beyond the group stages and have been let down by ordinary performances. The bowling attack is a weakness for the team, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who is back leading the team will expect a good show from his players. Their record against stronger teams has been dismal in the last couple of years, and it will be interesting to see how the Sri Lankans approach this tournament.
Squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
Pakistan (Winners 2009)
They won the title in 2009 and finished runner-up in the last edition. Pakistan is one of the strongest teams in this edition and has an explosive batting lineup. Babar Azam leads from the front, and he will look to guide his side to the next title. However, consistency has always been an issue with this team in the last few months. They also have a habit of struggling in knockout games. They will be one of the teams to watch out for in the World Cup as they are one of the top contenders.
Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Afghanistan
The Afghans may be the surprise element in this edition. Though they have never made it to the Top 4 in the past, the side has had its glory days when they have defeated bigger opponents. They are experienced players who have done well in this format in different parts of the world. Rashid Khan is an inspiring character who likes leading from the front and will look to do the same. They will be one of the teams to watch out for and can reach the knockouts if they can be consistent in the season.
Squad: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik
Bangladesh
The Bangla Tigers have played every edition of the tournament and are the only team to have never made it to the semifinals among the big teams. The side faces no shortage of talent but has succumbed under pressure throughout the tournament's history. Najmul Hossain Shanto will look to turn his team's fortunes. They are in a tough group and must be at their best to reach the Super 8s. The side has good all-rounders and shall look to bank on this strength in the tournament.
Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Ireland
The Irish side has been part of the tournament since the 2009 edition. While the team has come to every edition with much promise, they haven’t met the challenge. The side hasn’t moved beyond the second round in any of the editions, and skipper Paul Stirling would look to change that. They have an experienced group of players and are known to punch above their weight occasionally. Consistency will be key for the team as they take on the bigger sides.
Squad: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Canada
It will be Canada's first appearance in this tournament. While they did well in the Qualifiers in the past, the side never managed to seal a spot for itself. Saad Bin Zafar and his men would be aware of the scale of their challenge. They haven't played against stronger opponents regularly and must up their game to make a statement. The side will need to take each game as it comes, play positively, and get the best out of their resources in the long tournament.
Squad: Saad Bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva
United States
The United States would make their debut in this tournament. The side being the hosts will have a lot of expectations riding on their shoulders. They have done well against associate teams in recent months, but this will be a different ball game. Monank Patel will have to lead from the front and stick to the basics. They know the conditions and shall look to leverage it in this game.
Squad: Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir
Scotland
Among the associate teams, Scotland is one of the strongest, and they have surprised their opponents on several occasions. They have an experienced group of players who gel together. Richie Berrington has led this side with a lot of passion, but the team has never gone beyond the first round of this tournament. They must play positively as they take on some of their stronger opponents.
Squad: Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Chris Greaves, Oli Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal
Oman
It will be Oman's third appearance in the tournament. They have been part of the 2016 and 2021 editions. They failed to qualify for the 2022 edition and have never gone beyond the first round. Aqib Ilyas and his players have gained experience in the last few years playing against stronger opponents. The Omani skipper would want his players to show their intent and not be unnerved when facing the big names in world cricket.
Squad: Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale (wk), Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi (wk), Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad
Namibia
Namibia will play in the T20 World Cup for the third consecutive edition. The side will hope for better fortune as they failed to move beyond the first round in the 2021 and 2022 tournaments. Gerhard Erasmus has captained the side for a while, and he will be more confident about his team's prospects. They have several all-rounders in the squad, and it will be interesting to see if the side can qualify for the Super 8s and beat the stronger teams in their group.
Squad: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, PD Blignaut
Uganda
It will be a historic moment for Uganda as they debut in the T20 World Cup. The side has done well in associate tournaments for the last few years to earn its place, finishing runners-up in the Africa Qualifiers. They can't afford to get carried away by playing against the best teams in the world and must put up a stiff fight. Brian Masaba shall look to lead from the front and get the best performances out of his players in this tournament.
Squad: Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah, Juma Miyaji, Ronak Patel.
Papua New Guinea
The small nation in the southern Pacific will be playing the T20 World Cup for the second time. They played the 2021 tournament but failed to qualify for the last edition. Assad Vala and his men won the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier to earn their berth in the tournament, and the side will look to punch above its weight. Assad Vala has led from the front, and he will look to do the same in this tournament and put up a good fight against the group's stronger opponents.
Squad: Assad Vala (c), CJ Amini (vc), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura
Netherlands
The Dutch side has played in this tournament five times, but apart from making it to the second round in 2021, the side hasn't had much to write about. However, Scott Edwards and his team punched above their weight in the 50-over World Cup last year, raising expectations among their fans. They have a strong group of players who have sharpened their skills across different T20 franchise leagues. They will be one of the teams to watch out and have the skills and temperament to do well.
Squad: Scott Edwards (c, wk), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O'Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi
Nepal
The Himalayan nation returns to the tournament for the first time since 2014. They won the Asia Qualifier to book their berth in this tournament, which will be a big moment for the team. They have done well against associate nations in recent months and shall look to carry this momentum against the bigger teams. Rohit Paudel likes leading from the front and will look to do so and surprise the bigger teams.
Squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee