Online Reporter
BLESSING Muzarabani is the FIRST Zimbabwean sportsman to make the Dream Team of a World Cup.
The pacer was named in the Team of the Tournament for the ICC T20 World Cup, which ended in India on Sunday.
He finds himself in an elite category which is led by Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah.
Muzarabani took 13 wickets in his six games at an average of 14,46.
He was key to Zimbabwe’s dream run at the tournament.
After missing out on the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe produced their best performance at the T20 World Cups as they competed in the Super Eights.
Zimbabwe announced their arrival with a 23-run win over Australia.
In that match, Muzarabani claimed 4/17 as Australia were dismissed for 146 while chasing Zimbabwe’s 169/2.
In the group stage, the pacer claimed nine wickets in three matches as his team finished at the top of Group B.
OTHER BOWLERS IN THE DREAM TEAM
Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 8 matches, 14 wickets, 12.42 average, 6.21 economy
India’s batting is truly intimidating, but it is Jasprit Bumrah who has kept the team a cut above the rest. Even at the T20 World Cup 2026, he finished as the joint highest wicket-taker, along with teammate Varun Chakaravarthy.
His best was saved for the last, as the pacer claimed 4/15 against New Zealand in the final to earn the Player of the Match award.
It was not just timely scalps, but Bumrah’s ability to disrupt the opponent’s batting rhythm that separated him. His laser accuracy and ability to fire yorkers at the death turned his overs into choke points for the opponent.
Lungi Ngidi (South Africa) – 7 matches, 12 wickets, 15.58 average, 7.19 economy
Lungi Ngidi started the tournament with 4/31 against Canada and claimed two more three-wicket hauls. In the match against India, he did not claim any wickets but helped South Africa keep a lid on India’s batting firepower by conceding only 15 runs from his four overs.
Ngidi used his experience, variation and slower ball to great effect on largely batting-friendly tracks.
Adil Rashid (England) – 8 matches, 13 wickets, 19.23 average, 8.15 economy
Adil Rashid is the only specialist spinner in the team of the tournament. He used the conditions well, especially in Sri Lanka, to help England win six of their first seven matches.
While his best on paper was a 3/36 against Scotland, Rashid played a crucial role in the wins over Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the Super Eights. After England were restricted to 146/9 by Sri Lanka, the leg-spinner engineered the home team’s collapse with 2/13 in 3.4 overs.
OTHER RECORDS
146.00: Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett scored 292 runs at an average of 146.00 during the 2026 tournament. Not out in four of the six innings he played, Bennett now holds the highest average at a T20 World Cup.
106: Total number of sixes by India at the World Cup. It is the first time that a team had hit over 100 maxiumums in a T20I event.
250+ scores: India became the first team to register two 250+ scores in a row. They had made 253/7 against England in the semi-final. This was India’s third total over 250 in the tournament – they also put up 256/4 against Zimbabwe which is the highest team total at T20World Cup 2026. – Sports Reporter/ICC
