Australia’s legendary former captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his support behind the Australian side, backing them to make it to the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

Ponting, who led Australia to ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, believes the team has the experience and balance to succeed in subcontinental conditions. Australia are looking forward to putting behind them a disappointing campaign at the previous T20 World Cup in 2024, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. In 2024, Australia failed to progress beyond the Super Eights stage after suffering a shock defeat to Afghanistan, followed by a 24-run loss against India.

“If you look at the squad, I think they have as good a chance as anybody. India probably start the clear favourites I think in this event due to conditions, the talent and the group of players that they have put together. They'll be hard to beat but I really do think we will see Australia there come semi-final time,” Ponting told the ICC Review.

Now after two years, Australia will enter the tournament in India and Sri Lanka with a more settled squad, bolstered by players who have gained valuable experience in T20 leagues and recent ICC events.

“There has been a slight transition around the Australian team. It's not a dramatic one. If you look at the squad that they've named, there's a lot of experience in that squad still. A few guys are injured at the moment or coming back from injury. That's probably the biggest concern that they've got right now," he said.

"You look at (Marcus) Stoinis, (Glenn) Maxwell, Cameron Green, there are so many. Cooper Connolly. Young guy that's just won the MVP again in the BBL (Big Bash League) for the second year in a row. If it looks like it will turn, I think Australia will go with Connolly to back up Maxwell and (Adam) Zampa. So, they've got three spin bowling options there,” he added.

In the leadup to the T20I World Cup, Australia played a three-match T20I series against Pakistan, trying Cameron Green at No. 3. Ponting believes Green will continue to hold that spot, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head set to continue at the top.

“(Josh) Inglis is someone that they could bat at No.3 if they wanted to as well. And then they've got that experience in the middle with Maxwell and Stoinis and Co. It's a very good squad," he said.

“But the thing I know about these ICC events is, one, they're hard to win, because all the best teams in the world are playing in them, and if you want to win it, you have to have all your good players playing well at the right time. That's what Australia probably didn't have last time around. They just didn't have their big guns firing at the right time to win an event," Ponting said.