The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us.

India are defending champions after their 2024 win and have home advantage as co-hosts alongside Sri Lanka.

Can anyone stop them? And who will be the best batters and bowlers?

Here are the Test Match Special team's predictions before it all gets under way on Saturday, 7 February.

Former England bowler Steven Finn: It is hard to look beyond India, but the romance of South Africa winning after how close they got to winning by reaching the 2024 final is something I would like to see.