Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett as the best young player of the T20 World Cup 2026. The 22-year-old scored 292 runs in six matches of the T20I showpiece at an astonishing average of 146 and a strike rate of 134.56.
He ended the tournament as the sixth highest run-getter and played a major role in helping Zimbabwe qualify for the Super 8 stage. Chopra said that Benett’s six over long-on off Bumrah in the Super 8 stage clash reminded him of the famous Virat Kohli’s maximum against Haris Rauf in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“Brian Bennett. He was outstanding. The ease and capability with which he played, the best among the young players. I don’t think anyone has come even close to him because he hit consistently,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He hit Bumrah for a straight six. It gave a Virat Kohli-like feeling. He (Kohli) had hit Haris Rauf in Melbourne, and he (Bennett) hit Bumrah straight with a flat bat at Chepauk off a short ball. In my opinion, Brian Bennett was the pick of the young players. He is only 22 years old, with a wonderful future ahead of him,” he added.
Chopra picked England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the best spinner of the T20I showpiece. Rashid scalped 13 wickets in eight matches of the tournament at an average of 19.23.
“I want to go with Adil Rashid. He impressed me a lot. All spinners are becoming quicker. They bowl fast as soon as there is slight pressure. He flights the ball and invites you to hit. He bowls slower, and then he bowls googlies,” he replied.
Chopra revealed there were many good spinners in the competition but picked Rashid for his craftiness.
“There was craft in it. I will give it to him because he is absolutely gold dust. Although there were other good spinners as well, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy did well, Usman Tariq did really well, Saim Ayub in patches, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel was very good in one game, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Keshav Maharaj bowled a Super over, I am going to go with Adil Rashid,” Chopra observed.
Rashid bowled with an economy rate of 8.15 in the tournament.
