New Delhi: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir has once again stirred controversy with bold predictions about Team India’s prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup cycles. Known for his outspoken views, Aamir recently claimed on a Pakistani TV show that India won’t make it to the semifinals of the 2026 edition.
‘I’m not saying India is a bad team,’ Aamir clarified, basing his opinion on their batting struggles observed so far. He rated South Africa and West Indies higher, calling them stronger contenders for the knockout stages. ‘Like my opinion or not, that’s your call. I won’t force myself to say India will reach the final,’ he added defiantly.
Despite the criticism, Aamir expressed a wish for India to prove him wrong. This comes amid India’s solid group stage performance in the current tournament, where they topped their group with four wins, advancing to Super 8 alongside tough rivals like South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
India’s Super 8 schedule pits them against South Africa on February 22, Zimbabwe on February 26, and West Indies on March 1. As defending champions from 2024, playing on home soil, Team India has every chance to defend their title and silence doubters like Aamir.
Aamir’s history of provocative statements, including calling Abhishek Sharma a ‘slugger,’ has drawn social media backlash. Yet, his predictions add fuel to the India-Pakistan rivalry, keeping fans on edge as the tournament progresses.