5 Players who are playing their last T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup 2026 is nearing its end, with England and South Africa being the two teams that have qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament. India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies remain in contention for the remaining two spots.

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Amidst all the brilliant performances from the players, there is some gloominess amongst the cricket fans, as several of the players might be appearing for the final time in the T20 World Cup tournament, with the next edition scheduled in 2028. Due to age or form, some experienced stars may be playing their last T20 World Cup, and let’s take a look at five such players.

5 Players Who Are Playing Their Last T20 World Cup:

5. David Miller

David “Killer” Miller has been a rock for South Africa in white-ball cricket since his debut in 2010. He has 2776 runs with a strike rate of 141.56 in 138 T20Is with 2 centuries and 9 fifties. He has also done well in the T20 World Cup 2026, with 146 runs at a strike rate of 162.22 with one fifty, with a winning knock against India.

However, at 36 years of age, David Miller, despite his stature and reputation, might not continue till the 2028 T20 World Cup. South Africa has several new players coming ahead, and Miller might not fit into the Proteas' new management’s favor for young players.

4. Mohammad Nabi

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is the most experienced player for his team in this T20 World Cup 2026. In a disappointing outcome, Afghanistan failed to qualify for the Super 8s stage this season. Nabi had a poor outing, with 18 runs and five wickets in four games in the tournament.

When the T20 World Cup returns in 2028, Nabi will be 43 years of age and most likely might have retired from international cricket. With advancing age and dwindling form, Nabi might not continue for Afghanistan despite his 2448 runs and 109 wickets in 152 games.

3. Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler, England’s 2022 T20 World Cup-winning captain, is participating in the T20 World Cup 2026 as well. He has struggled with 62 runs in 6 games with a strike rate of 110.71. The success of Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, and others has masked Buttler’s failures.

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With England likely to move on from veterans to build a new-look team under Harry Brook, Buttler, who is 35 years old, might find himself out of contention given his current form. He has 4012 runs in 153 T20Is, with one ton and 28 fifties with a strike rate of 147.88, an enviable record. But with other big hitters waiting in the wing for the top-order spot, Buttler might not make it to the T20 World Cup 2028.

2. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell had come into the T20 World Cup 2026 with a lot riding on his reputation and not a lot of form backing him. He failed to come good, scoring 62 runs and taking two wickets as Australia crashed out in the group stage in Sri Lanka.

Maxwell, 36, has already retired from ODIs and no longer plays Tests. He’ll be 38 when the T20 World Cup 2028 begins, and given his form, this is probably the last time Maxwell has turned out in Australian colors in international cricket.

1. Babar Azam

Ace Pakistani batter Babar Azam has had a poor time in the T20 World Cup 2026. Already under pressure due to poor outings in T20Is and coming back to the format after one year, Azam has managed only 91 runs in 6 games with a strike rate of 112.34. This has been a very underwhelming performance from Babar, who is considered a batter on par with the likes of Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf.

Despite being only 31 years old, Babar Azam’s poor run in T20Is, especially his strike rate, might make it his final T20 World Cup appearance. Babar is the highest T20I run-getter with 4596 runs with a strike rate of 128.02 with 3 centuries and 39 fifties. But his future in T20Is remains bleak, and he might not play in T20 World Cups going forward.

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