3 Possible game plans of Australia for next T20 World Cup

Australia have always been one of the best cricketing teams, but their T20 World Cup stint has witnessed mixed results. Since the inaugural edition in 2007, the Men in Yellow have qualified for every tournament, reaching the semifinals in 2007 and 2012, and finishing as runners-up in 2010. Their crowning moment came in the 2021 edition, when, under Aaron Finch’s captaincy, they clinched their maiden T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand in Dubai.

However, they suffered early exits in 2009, 2014, and 2016, along with a disappointing home campaign in 2022. In the previous season in 2024, despite qualifying for the Super Eight, they failed to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament. Their biggest heartbreak came against Afghanistan as they suffered a 21-run defeat.

Now, with the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Australia will once again enter as strong contenders. With Mitchell Marsh leading the squad, the team will be hoping to add a second T20 title to their illustrious trophy cabinet.

Here are the three possible strategies Australia could use in T20 World Cup 2026:

3. Using more spinners:

Australia are expected to emphasise on their spin department for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with conditions likely to favour those bowlers. In the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, the Aussies travelled with two frontline spinners and one spin-bowling all-rounder, while in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the squad featured two specialist spinners alongside part-time options.

This time, selectors are expected to follow a similar pattern. Glenn Maxwell has been honing his skills with the new ball, even bowling inside the Powerplay, which could be important on dry pitches where grip and variations matter the most. Given the turning tracks in India and Sri Lanka, Australia’s strategy will likely revolve around having multiple spin options.