India cricket fans’ wishlist for 2026: Defend T20 World Cup title & treat fans better

2025 was like a rollercoaster for Indian cricket team fans. You had the highest of highs, winning the Men’s Champions Trophy and the Women’s ODI World Cup, but also the lowest of lows, a second Test whitewash in 12 months.

As we step into 2026, admirers of Indian cricket want normalcy to return in Test cricket but continue having the same success in white-ball cricket. But apart from winning series and lifting trophies, fans also want some change.

India cricket team fans’ wishlist for 2026

Defending Men’s T20 World Cup title

Since lifting the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, India have been the number one-ranked team in T20Is. The Men in Blue have lost just 5 matches during this period. They are arguably the greatest T20I team we have ever seen. India will enter the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup as favourites. Playing at home also adds to more expectations and pressure. But Team India’s performance justifies the expectations.

Hold both Women’s ICC trophies

The India women’s cricket team is the reigning Women’s ODI World Cup champions. In 6 months, they’ll have the chance to hold both ICC trophies together. Something only the greatest cricket teams are able to achieve. Lifting the T20 World Cup 2026 will be a target, but unlike the men’s team, the women’s team isn’t that strong a force. However, one can’t forget that they overcame the odds to win their maiden ICC trophy just 3 months ago.

First away Test series win in 3 years

July 2023: That was the last time India won an away series in Test cricket. That too was against the West Indies, who were the second-worst performing team in red-ball cricket during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. Given India has been whitewashed twice at home in the last 12 months, expecting them to win in Sri Lanka in August and New Zealand in November seems a bit far-fetched.

But that’s what you want as a fan. Currently placed 6th in the 2025-27 WTC cycle, if India wants to make the finals, they have to beat both teams. Doing so won’t be easy. Sri Lanka has started to assemble a great side. As for New Zealand, India hasn’t won there since 2009.

BCCI to treat fans properly

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest board, but it falls behind most cricket bodies when it comes to treating their biggest assets, the fans. BCCI still continues to stick with offline tickets. This has caused stampede-like situations on multiple occasions. Schedules aren’t unveiled until mere weeks in advance, while other boards roll them out months in advance. Because of this, fans can’t plan their trips properly.

BCCI continues to build stadiums, but they aren’t well-kept. From dirty seats to no drinking water, fans tackle multiple issues. Small things like properly sanitised washrooms or the ability to take something simple like a water bottle inside shouldn’t be a problem. Yet they are.

Despite hosting matches in the summer, stadiums often lack roofs, and parking remains inconvenient. Domestic matches are often not streamed, fans face restricted entry, and stands may be closed without explanation.

New Test coach for Team India

Gautam Gambhir has proven himself as a white-ball coach, but his Test credentials are questionable. Brought on after one great Indian Premier League (IPL) season, it isn’t a shock that Gambhir hasn’t succeeded. Last year, he became the first coach to lose 0-3 at home. He has followed that up with becoming the first Indian coach to suffer back-to-back whitewashes.

BCCI has to look at someone else. VVS Laxman wasn’t interested before and isn’t right now. But Gambhir has to be cut loose. The 7-10 record could be much worse, given Sri Lanka and New Zealand tours await India in 2026.

Better workload management for Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is India’s biggest asset, and he wasn’t managed properly in 2025. It started with him getting injured in Sydney after Rohit Sharma overused him. He missed out on winning the Champions Trophy due to it. Luckily, he was rested for 2 matches in England. But then, for reasons unknown, Bumrah was played against the West Indies. It was the perfect time to rest him and try someone else, but the Indian management thought otherwise.

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