T20 World Cup: Rajput hopeful of a creditable show by UAE

Lalchand Rajput expresses hope for UAE's strong performance in T20 World Cup, highlighting recent progress and player confidence.

Nineteen years ago, the inaugural ICC World T20 was a step into the unknown. The success of that event back in 2007 — driven in large part by India’s triumph — led to the birth of the IPL, and the subsequent boom of the shortest format, which has reshaped the sport’s landscape.

One person who played a key role in India’s victory was coach Lalchand Rajput. The former Indian cricketer has since taken on other coaching assignments and is back at the T20 World Cup for the first time after the 2007 edition, as the UAE’s head coach.

The Middle-Eastern country missed the 2024 edition but has made steady progress over the last 18 months under Rajput.

“We have worked very hard, and hopefully we’ll try and showcase that the UAE is also one of the teams, which is coming up now,” said Rajput in a chat with The Hindu.

The Gulf team, slotted in Group D, will kick off its campaign against New Zealand at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here before moving to New Delhi for its remaining matches against South Africa, Afghanistan and Canada.

In 2025, the UAE shocked Bangladesh 2-1 in a three-match T20 series ahead of the Asia Cup, and Rajput felt it showed what the team was capable of.