Inaugural T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa named two promising Indian players who could impress world cricket with their performances and win many games for their country in 2026.
Top-order batter Tilak Varma and opener Pratika Rawal got the nod from the cricketer-turned-expert, who won the Orange Cap in the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League.
“Pratika Rawal. She faced an injury during the WC and will come back into the play with a good form. Looking forward to her coming in and smashing a few records, doing exceptionally well. In men’s cricket, Tilak Verma, my standout player, kuch gazab hi krega (will do something extraordinary),” Uthappa said while speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, on his players to watch out for.
Tilak has played some brilliant knocks for the Indian team in the shortest format. Apart from his back-to-back centuries against South Africa in November 2024, Tilak slammed a calm and composed fifty in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan to win the Men in Blue the coveted title.
The 23-year-old Tilak has played 40 T20Is, in which he has amassed 1182 runs at an average of 49.25 and a strike rate of 143.98. He has cemented his spot at the top of the order in the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team. The Hyderabad batter will play a crucial role as India aims to become the first team to win consecutive T20 World Cup titles this year.
Tilak will also look to make a few more ODI appearances in 2026. He has played five ODIs, the last of them coming against South Africa last month.
On the other hand, Pratika has been the epitome of consistency in ODI cricket since she made her international debut in December 2024. In 24 ODIs, she has amassed 1110 runs at an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83. The right-handed batter already has seven fifties and two centuries to her name.
During the Women’s ODI World Cup last year, the 25-year-old played a significant role for India, belting 308 runs in six innings at an average of 51.33 before getting injured and missing the knockout matches.
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