“Who leads?” - Adam Gilchrist questions Mitchell Marsh on Australia’s captain at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, suffered a bilateral T20I series defeat for the first time in nearly two years after losing to India by 1-2 in the five-match T20I series at home. Interestingly, this was Marsh’s first-ever T20I series defeat as a captain.

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It’s important to note that Pat Cummins has been excellent in Tests and the ODI format. On the other hand, Marsh has achieved huge success as a T20I skipper since becoming the permanent captain in 2024. 

After the conclusion of the five-match T20I series, Marsh was questioned by the former Australian keeper-batter Adam Gilchrist whether Cummins would take up the captaincy from him at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Here’s the conversation:

"Who leads? You or Pat (Cummins)? Is Pat going to captain the World Cup squad if he's fit, or will you hang on to the captaincy?" Gilchrist asked Marsh.

"That's a good question, Gilly. I think I'll be there," replied Marsh.

"So you're the official T20 captain? Pat Cummins comes in, so he's going to play under you?" asked Gilchrist.

"I think so, yeah," stated Marsh.

"Thanks for clarifying. There have been a few questions around the same," Gilchrist concluded.

For the unversed, Cummins played under Mitchell Marsh’s captaincy in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. However, Australia bowed out of the campaign after being knocked out in the Super Eight Stage.

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As a T20I captain, Marsh has played 35 games, scoring 997 runs at an average of 38.34 and a strike rate of 157 with one century and five half-centuries. Though Cummins is currently ruled out of the cricketing action due to an injury, he would be making a direct entry to the T20I side once he gains full fitness.

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