T20 WC 2026: Michael Vaughan makes his predictions for the semifinals, skips South Africa

Cricket fans are in a frenzy as the T20 World Cup fever finally sets in. The teams are utilising the warm-up games, which have already started, to make final preparations for the big event. Even though the event is still a ways off, Vaughan's selections have already generated discussion, especially about the teams he has supported and the countries that were left out.

India, England, New Zealand, and Australia are the teams that former England captain Michael Vaughan picked to advance to the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, which begin on February 7. Interestingly, Vaughan did not include South Africa, the tournament's runners-up from the previous year.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan listed the Men in Blue as one of the best sides in the tournament without hesitation following India's 4-1 victory against New Zealand in the five-match T20I series. Vaughan supported Australia, New Zealand, and England, in addition to India, to go to the T20 World Cup semifinals. South Africa was removed from his list of likely semi-finalists for the forthcoming competition. In the last T20 World Cup, the Proteas advanced to the finals but were defeated by India.

“My 4 T20 World Cup semi finalists will be … India , England , NZ & Australia,” Vaughan posted on X on Monday.

The format of the 10th event will be identical to that of the 2024 World Cup. With the exception of Bangladesh, which the International Cricket Council (ICC) substituted with Scotland after they declined to go to India for their group matches due to current political unrest, this comprises nine of the top ten T20I teams.

Four pools of five teams in a single round-robin format will make up the group stage. Each group's top two teams advance to the Super 8 round. Each of the four groups' top two teams will advance to the Super 8s. The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four, Group 1 and Group 2. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semifinals.

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