England cricket legends predict T20 World Cup winner

Eoin Morgan and Nasser Hussain both overlooked England when revealing their picks to win the T20 World Cup.

The 2024 T20 World Cup started on Sunday morning with co-hosts USA beating Canada by three wickets at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.

Fellow joint-hosts West Indies then kick-started their campaign later in the day with a five-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in Guyana.

The expanded T20 World Cup will involve 20 teams all bidding to reach the June 29 final and become champions in the shortest format in international cricket.

England are the reigning champions following their triumph in Australia two years ago but neither Morgan or Hussain believe they will retain the trophy.

Jos Buttler’s side made a dismal defence of their 50-over World Cup title last year, crashing out in the group stage, and former England captains Morgan and Hussain have predicted more disappointment at the upcoming tournament.

Asked to predict the winner, Morgan – who captained England during the 2019 World Cup win – told the Sky Sports Cricket podcast: ‘I think India but I would love England to win it and I hope West Indies can have a good run too.

‘India are favourites for me. If you look at the quality they have on paper, if they produce their best form they can, they can beat anybody quite well in the tournament.

‘It’s a huge competition for them. The strength and depth is absolutely incredible at the moment. We are talking about the players who missed out on the squad of 15 because of the quality they possess.

‘I think they’re spinners will come into the game out there and that excellence in power-hitting is probably a point of difference from other teams.’

Discussing England’s chances of winning back-to-back T20 World Cups, Morgan added: ‘I think they have a brilliant squad and they’ve selected well. I like the level of consistency and continuity they’ve shown with their batting line-up and selection.’

India won the inaugural T20 World Cup back in 2007 but have not lifted the trophy since then despite hosting the IPL, the biggest and best T20 franchise competition in the world.

No team has ever won successive T20 World Cups, with England’s two victories coming 12 years apart and West Indies lifting the trophy in 2012 and then 2016.

Apart from two-time winners England and West Indies, the only other T20 World Cup winners have been India, Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Hussain has backed Australia to lift their second title and become champions in all three formats following their 50-over World Cup win and World Test Championship victory last year.

‘I’m going with Australia, I think they will get the three,’ the ex-England captain said.

‘It’s incredible how their players may underwhelm slightly at franchise tournaments but when they put on the Aussie shirt they just go to through the roof.’

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