T20 World Cup 2026: Dinesh Karthik compares dominant Indian T20I side to Roger Federer at his peak

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik compared the current Indian T20I side to tennis legend Roger Federer at the peak of his career amid the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The Men in Blue began their campaign in style, overcoming a few tense moments to defeat the United States of America by 29 runs in their tournament opener.

India have won 21 of their last 25 T20I matches since the start of last year, with the streak extending to 45 wins in 52 games since the beginning of 2024. This run includes an unbeaten campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which culminated in India lifting their second T20 World Cup title.

“I feel like what Roger Federer was early on in his career. Everybody used to compete to somehow find a way to stop him in the final. India is exactly where Roger Federer was in his peak. That’s what we will watch in the next couple of weeks, if something interesting will unfold,” said Karthik on Cricbuzz.

Ajinkya Rahane also praised the current T20I side for their unparalleled dominance over the past year. The Men in Blue are strong favourites to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title and end their long wait for a home triumph.

“Playing absolutely great cricket in this format for the last 12 months. And the combination of what they have right now is amazing. They have a fearless attitude and play fearless cricket, and everyone seems to enjoy each other’s company. They are looking like one unit and are also trying to help each other out. That’s a great sign,” said Rahane.

Suryakumar Yadav and his team will look to continue their dominant run in their second Group A clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on February 12. India are also aiming to become the first three-time champions in T20 World Cup history.