New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament will feature 20 teams, many of which include players of Indian origin. While Team India represents the Blue Jersey, several players with Indian roots will be facing the national team—fulfilling their cricketing dreams on the international stage, albeit for other countries.
In total, around 40 Indian-origin cricketers will take part in the tournament, showcasing their skills for nations other than India. These players grew up dreaming of representing India but found opportunities abroad to play at the highest level.
Countries and Number of Indian-Origin Players
- Canada: 11 players
- USA: 9 players
- Oman: 7 players
- UAE: 7 players
- New Zealand: 2 players
- South Africa: 1 player
- West Indies: 1 player
- Italy: 1 player
- Netherlands: 1 player
Notable Indian-Origin Players
Monak Patel (USA) – The 32-year-old USA captain, who previously played Under-19 cricket for Gujarat, moved to the US to fulfill his dream of playing international cricket. “This is like a dream come true for many of our players. Most of us started our careers in India, so playing here in India feels very special,” he said.
Jaspreet Singh (Italy) – Hailing from Phagwara, Punjab, Jaspreet is a fast bowler who helped Italy qualify for the World Cup. Having moved to Italy at a young age, he described playing in India, his country of origin, as “difficult to put into words.” Jaspreet also worked as an Uber driver in the UK before fully pursuing cricket.
Saurabh Netrawalkar (USA) – Known for his pace and skill, Saurabh impressed during the 2024 T20 World Cup, especially against India, claiming the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Professionally, he is a software engineer who had to take leave from work to pursue his cricketing passion.
Indian-Origin Coaches in the World Cup
Indian influence extends beyond players. Former Indian cricketers are coaching international teams:
- Lalchand Rajput – Head Coach, UAE
- Sulakshan Kulkarni – Deputy Coach, Oman
Kulkarni, who played extensively in India’s domestic circuit, noted: “When players realize opportunities are limited in India, they start seeking chances elsewhere. This realization happens faster today than ever before.”
Full List of Indian-Origin Players by Team
| Team | No. of Players | Player Names |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 11 | Dilpreet Bajwa (captain), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Harsh Thakkar, Jaskarandeep Butter, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Ravinderpal Singh, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, Yuvraj Samra |
| USA | 9 | Monak Patel (captain), JC Singh, Milind Kumar, Nostush Kenjige, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthy, Harmeet Singh, Saurabh Netrawalkar, Shubham Ranjane |
| Oman | 7 | Jatinder Singh (captain), Vinayak Shukla, Karan Sonawale, Jai Odedra, Ashish Odedra, Wasim Ali, Jiten Ramnandi |
| UAE | 7 | Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Simranjeet Singh, Sohaib Khan |
| New Zealand | 2 | Ish Sodhi, Rachin Ravindra |
| South Africa | 1 | Keshav Maharaj |
| West Indies | 1 | Gudakesh Motie |
| Italy | 1 | Jaspreet Singh |
| Netherlands | 1 | Aryan Dutt |
With such a strong presence of Indian-origin talent across multiple teams, the T20 World Cup 2026 promises high-octane contests. While these players may not wear the Blue Jersey, their roots and passion for the game will be evident every time they step onto the field.
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