The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 which will begin on 7th February, functions as more than a standard cricket tournament because it demonstrates the global reach of Indian cricketing dominance. The tournament which India and Sri Lanka host has special significance for fans because players of Indian background will compete for various nations.

 

India stands as the primary attraction of the tournament while an exciting competition unfolds alongside their presence. The teams will depend on players who have Indian lineage either by birth or by training in Indian domestic cricket or by their Indian roots in the Indian immigrant communities abroad. The players currently play the role of a support system for several associate nations and top teams.

 

Indian-origin players will showcase their abilities through different jerseys across North America Europe the Middle East and Oceania while maintaining their shared cricketing principles. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 demonstrates the worldwide expansion of Indian cricket beyond its territorial limits.

 

The following table presents the distribution of Indian-origin players participating in the tournament across different countries.

 

Also Read | T20 World Cup 2026 ultimate guide: format, venues, points, rules Explained

 

List of Indian-origin players who will participate in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

 

1. Canada (11 Players)

 

The tournament features more Indian-origin players from Canada than any other participating nation. The majority of these cricketers started their careers in India particularly from Punjab and Gujarat before they migrated to other countries.

 

• Dilpreet Bajwa (Captain) - Gurdaspur, Punjab


• Navneet Dhaliwal - Chandigarh


• Shreyas Movva - Guntur, Andhra Pradesh


• Ansh Patel - Vadodara, Gujarat


• Jaskarandeep Buttar - Mohali, Punjab


• Ajayveer Hundal


• Harsh Thaker


• Kanwarpal Tathgur


• Ravinderpal Singh


• Shivam Sharma


• Yuvraj Samra

 

Canada’s team composition demonstrates how Indian grassroots cricket development programs enable international cricket growth.

 

2. United States of America (9 Players)

 

The USA team has some very familiar names for Indian cricket fans. Several players have experience in Ranji Trophy, IPL, or India U-19 cricket.

 

• Monank Patel (Captain) - Anand, Gujarat


• Saurabh Netravalkar - Former Mumbai Ranji & India U-19


• Harmeet Singh - 2012 India U-19 World Cup winner


• Milind Kumar - Former Delhi & IPL player


• Shubham Ranjane - Former Mumbai & Rajasthan Royals


• Jessy Singh


• Nosthush Kenjige


• Saiteja Mukkamalla


• Sanjay Krishnamurthi

 

The fast growth of USA cricket results from Indian-origin leaders who bring their expertise from their cricketing backgrounds.

 

3. Oman (7 Players)

 

Oman leagues have developed an extensive associate-level team who primarily come from North Indian backgrounds.

 

• Jatinder Singh (Captain) - Ludhiana, Punjab


• Vinayak Shukla - Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh


• Karan Sonavale


• Jay Odedra


• Ashish Odedra


• Wasim Ali


• Jiten Ramanandi

 

The success of Indian players proves their significance in strengthening cricket within the Middle East region.

 

4. United Arab Emirates (7 Players)

 

The UAE team features players who developed their cricket skills in India and players who belong to the second generation of Indian cricketers.

 

• Simranjeet Singh


• Sohaib Khan - Gaya, Bihar


• Alishan Sharafu - Kerala


• Aryansh Sharma - Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh


• Dhruv Parashar - Pune, Maharashtra


• Harshit Kaushik


• Mayank Kumar

 

The team's composition reflects both Indian training methods and international cricket experience.

 

5. New Zealand (2 Players)

 

• Rachin Ravindra - Family roots in Bengaluru


• Ish Sodhi - Born in Ludhiana, Punjab

 

Both players have become essential components of the New Zealand national team.

 

6. South Africa (1 Player)

 

• Keshav Maharaj - Ancestral roots in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh

 

Maharaj remains one of South Africa’s most reliable spinners.

 

7. West Indies (1 Player)

 

• Gudakesh Motie - Indo-Guyanese background

 

Motie represents the long-standing Indian community in the Caribbean.

 

Also Read | T20 World Cup 2026: Which Team Looks the Strongest Based on Current Squad?

 

8. Netherlands (1 Player)

 

• Aryan Dutt - Roots in Punjab

 

9. Italy (1 Player)

 

• Jaspreet Singh - Phagwara, Punjab

 

A Global Indian Cricket Story

 

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 demonstrates how Indian cricketing traditions have shaped international cricketing practices. Indian-origin athletes have become vital players for numerous nations because they gained opportunities through migration and subsequent chances for career advancement.

 

Indian cricketers who take different paths all share a common affiliation with the sport which traces back to Indian cricket.