The Cricket Podcast

In this episode of The Cricket Podcast, we dive headfirst into the pure, unadulterated chaos of the opening six matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup. It has been a weekend of "Associate Uprising" and major-nation meltdowns, headlined by England narrowly avoiding one of the greatest humiliations in sporting history.

We break down the "World Cup DRAMA" at the Wankhede, where Harry Brook and the "bleached boy wonder" Jacob Bethell (55) dragged England from the depths of 57-3 against Nepal. Despite a late surge from Lokesh Bam (39* off 15), Sam Curran held his nerve in a final-over masterclass to secure a 4-run win. Is this "cling-on" energy sustainable, or are England already cooked?

The episode also covers:

India vs USA: Suryakumar Yadav (84*) rescues the defending champions from a 46/4 collapse to see off a spirited American side by 29 runs.

Pakistan’s Great Escape: Faheem Ashraf goes "bonkers" in the 19th over to deny the Netherlands a historic opening-day upset in Colombo.

West Indies Power: Shimron Hetmyer's blitz and a Romario Shepherd hat-trick—part of a stunning five-wicket haul—blow away Scotland.

New Zealand Clinical: Tim Seifert (65) and Glenn Phillips overcome the "Group of Death" landmines to chase down 182 against Afghanistan.

We ask the big questions: Why are the big teams struggling to put away the smaller nations? Is the Nepal crowd the best thing to happen to cricket? And who is the early favorite for the Super 8s?

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Today, we're diving into the absolute 'Group of Death' in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Group D. With matches unfolding across India and Sri Lanka, all eyes are on whether the 'Afghan Atalan' can survive a brutal pool to reach the Super 8s.

Can Afghanistan replicate their 2024 semi-final heroics? Standing in their way are two massive heavyweights: South Africa and New Zealand. While the Proteas and Blackcaps are perennial favourites, this group is widely considered the toughest on paper, leaving no room for a slow start.
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In this episode, Jack, Ross and Max turn their attention to Group C.

England come into the tournament off the back of on-field prowess and off-field embarrassment, but will their batting firepower carry them through to a world cup final? West Indies have been pretty poor of late, but surely their T20 stars can pull it together at some point?

Also in Group C, Nepal, Scotland and Italy lie in wait. 3 teams with very different stories: Nepal on the up and up, Scotland in last minute, and Italy here for the very first time. Can any of them spring a surprise?
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Is it really "Easy Street" for the Aussies? In this episode, Jack, Ross, and Max dive into the chaotic lead-up to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, specifically dissecting the landmines waiting in Group B.

After a bruising 3-0 series sweep at the hands of Pakistan, Australia arrive in Sri Lanka looking uncharacteristically vulnerable. With Pat Cummins officially ruled out due to a back injury and Josh Hazlewood set to miss the opening phase, Mitchell Marsh’s side is suddenly leaning heavily on fresh faces like Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett. Can Adam Zampa and a spin-heavy attack—including bolters Cooper Connolly and Matt Kuhnemann—carry the load on Colombo’s turning tracks?.

We also size up the competition. Co-hosts Sri Lanka are licking their lips at the prospect of an upset on home soil, while Sikandar Raza’s Zimbabwe and a battle-hardened Ireland side are more than capable of crashing the Super 8 party. We ask the big questions: Is the aggressive "ultra-batting" mindset sustainable without their senior bowling core? And which of the "smaller" nations is most likely to provide the tournament's first massive "boilover"?
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Is this finally the moment Team India cements their legacy as the undisputed greatest T20 side in history? With the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup kicking off this week, we’re diving deep into Group A to see if Suryakumar Yadav and his squad are ready to defend their crown on home soil.

In this episode, the boys break down India’s "ultra-attacking" squad selection. We discuss the shock exclusion of Shubman Gill, the explosive potential of an Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson opening pair, and whether Jasprit Bumrah can carry a bowling attack featuring the mystery spin of Varun Chakaravarthy. But it’s not all smooth sailing—we tackle the big questions around Surya’s recent dip in form and whether the middle order can survive the pressure of a home World Cup.

The drama doesn’t stop there. We provide a full Group A preview, analyzing the massive political fallout as Pakistan confirms a boycott of their high-stakes February 15 clash against India in Colombo. What does this mean for the tournament’s integrity and Pakistan’s path to the Super 8s? We also look at the "giant-killer" potential of the USA, Netherlands, and Namibia. Can Saurabh Netravalkar haunt the big guns again?
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