Navneet Dhaliwal: The Punjab boy who carried Canada's flag to two World Cups
India Today
T20 World Cup: Retiring as Canada's highest run-scorer in T20Is, Navneet Dhaliwal, in an exclusive interview, reflects on his journey from Punjab's Under-19 grounds to leading Canada to two World Cups, while also speaking about his consistent push for greater exposure for Associate teams.
On Thursday in Chennai, when Canada take the field for their final ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Afghanistan, Navneet Dhaliwal will walk out knowing it is the last time he does so in international cricket.
The 37-year-old former captain confirmed his decision after Canada’s defeat to New Zealand ended their hopes of reaching the Super Eight. There was no elaborate announcement, just a clear acknowledgement that the journey had reached its natural end. Navneet's drive for Canada will be remembered for its panache. (Photo: PTI)
Dhaliwal leaves as Canada’s highest run scorer in T20 Internationals, a batter who carried the side through qualifiers, regional tournaments, and two World Cups. His international career began in 2015, when he made his List A debut against the Netherlands in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two. What followed was a decade of steady accumulation and quiet leadership.
“I played Under-19 cricket for Punjab. That’s where my cricketing journey started. Then I moved to Canada. It’s been about 10-12 years now playing for Canada and have featured in two World Cups. I do go back to India now and then. The journey has been going well,” Dhaliwal told Indiatoday.in.
Under his captaincy, Canada won 21 T20Is. He led in 29 matches in the format and also captained the side in four ODIs. His leadership coincided with a period in which Canada were fighting to re establish themselves consistently in global qualification pathways.
He often led from the front with the bat. In the 2018 19 Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies, he was Canada’s leading run scorer with 271 runs in six matches. In Namibia in 2019, during the ICC World Cricket League Division Two, he topped the charts for his side again with 219 runs in five games. In Malaysia later that year, he struck 140 off 94 balls against the hosts in the Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament, powering Canada to 408 for 7.
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