Top 5 players fans will miss most at T20 World Cup 2026

The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka, with 20 teams from around the globe taking part. This will be the second edition of the tournament to feature 20 teams, adding to the excitement and buzz among fans worldwide. However, while anticipation is high, several iconic players who have either retired or stepped away from international cricket will not be part of the marquee event.

Today, CricTracker has a look at five such players who have downed the curtains on their international career in the shortest format of the game and will no longer be seen in arguably the biggest global cricketing spectacle of the year.

Here are 5 players whom fans will miss most at T20 WC 2026

5. Andre Russell

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is one of the big players to miss the T20 World Cup. A powerhouse in the middle order, Russell was capable of turning matches on their head with his explosive batting and athletic fielding. He scored 236 runs in 29 T20 World Cup matches, often at a blistering strike rate. Across 75 T20I innings, Russell scored 1,122 runs at an impressive strike rate of 163.79 before announcing his retirement. His ability to clear the ropes effortlessly made him one of the most feared finishers in world cricket.

4. David Warner

Australian opener David Warner is another star fans will miss in the 2026 edition. He is known for his aggressive style and global fan following and has been one of the most entertaining players in T20 cricket. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 178 runs in seven innings. Overall, Warner is the fifth-highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, with 984 runs in 41 matches, including eight half-centuries. Despite being in good form in franchise cricket like the Big Bash League (BBL), Warner could not be seen in Australian colours.

3. Nicholas Pooran

Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran is another big miss, having retired from international cricket at a relatively young age. One of the most destructive batters of his generation, Pooran scored 2,275 runs in T20Is for the West Indies. In T20 World Cup history, he accumulated 356 runs in 15 matches. His flair and power-hitting will be sorely missed, especially by fans in the subcontinent.

2. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, the second-highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, is another major name fans will miss. He captained India to the 2024 title and is the only Indian player to have featured in every T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition in 2007. In the 2024 tournament, Rohit scored 257 runs in eight matches, underlining his importance in big events. Overall, he has scored 1,220 runs in 44 innings, including 12 half-centuries. Rohit announced his retirement from T20 internationals alongside Kohli after the 2024 World Cup.

1. Virat Kohli

Former India captain Virat Kohli is arguably the biggest absentee from the upcoming T20 World Cup. He remains the leading run-scorer for India in T20 World Cup history and has been a pillar of consistency for the Men in Blue. Kohli played a vital role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, scoring a match-winning 76 in the final against South Africa. Across T20 World Cups, he has amassed 1,292 runs in 33 innings at a remarkable average of 58.72, including 15 half-centuries. His absence will be deeply felt by Indian fans.