“Would you believe it that Australia have not made the top eight?” - Ravi Ashwin opens up on Australia’s early exit from T20 WC 2026

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has voiced out his opinions on Australia not advancing to the Super 8 stage in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, questioning if their players are taking the T20 World Cup events seriously as they do in the ODIs and Tests.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former spinner went on to add that he wanted to see an India vs Australia clash in the Super 8 stage, but clarified their early exit from the campaign has surprised him a lot.

"Would you believe it that Australia have not made the top eight? Australia have not been great in T20 World Cups. Are they taking these T20 World Cups seriously? I know they didn't have Cummins and Hazlewood, I know Starc is also done. I'm not sure Australia are making enough attempts in terms of wanting to capture something in these T20 World Cups," Ravi Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"For a cricketing nation that has got so much potential, quality and depth, I just think if they put a concise effort, we will start seeing better Australian teams at the T20 World Cup. I really don't think they really stood a chance in this particular T20 World Cup. I was looking forward to an India-Australia clash in the Super 8," he added.

Additionally, Ashwin reckoned that their talismanic batter Steve Smith should have been part of the initial World Cup squad. Notably, Smith was included in the squad as Josh Hazlewood’s replacement after Australia almost got knocked out of the event.

"They should have actually put Steve Smith in the squad, in the playing XI. Australia were always going to come underdone in their bowling department. No experience, Xavier Bartlett is just about coming through. I think he is exceptionally skilled. Nathan Ellis is a very good bowler, but is a very restrictive bowler," he concluded.

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