The 2026 T20 Blast gets under way on Friday with 18 teams set to battle for domestic short-form honours. The men’s competition arrives stacked with established internationals and emerging stars keen to strengthen their multi-format England cases, while the women’s tournament is noticeably affected by World Cup call-ups — a handful of remaining players, though, could force selectors into second thoughts.
Davina Perrin: a missed call-up to prove a point
One of the tournament’s most intriguing storylines comes from 19-year-old Davina Perrin. Omitted from England’s T20 World Cup squad, Perrin arrives at the Blast with plenty to prove. The Warwickshire batter topped her county’s run charts in 2025 and produced the fastest-ever women’s century in the Hundred eliminator — an explosive 101 off 43 balls for the Northern Superchargers — yet she was left out of England’s plans for this summer.
England coach Charlotte Edwards confirmed Perrin had been part of the conversation but suggested bench roles required multi-positional experience. Perrin will respond on the field: another high-output Blast campaign would underline her temperament and finishing power and make a strong case for international selection sooner rather than later.
James Coles: all-rounder looking to broaden his England case
James Coles, the most expensive male buy at the Hundred auction, will be another player to watch. A right-handed batter who bowls left-arm spin, Coles debuted for Sussex at 16 and has developed rapidly across formats. His winter stint for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 produced 161 runs and five wickets and helped the side lift the title.
Sussex coach Paul Farbrace has praised Coles’ maturity and willingness to embrace pressure. Paired with experienced campaigners such as Tymal Mills and the competition’s leading wicket-taker Danny Briggs, Coles’ performances in the Blast could accelerate his rise and broaden his opportunities with England in both red and white-ball cricket.
Surrey women: gaps to fill and Monaghan’s chance
Reigning Women’s Blast champions Surrey face a different task after losing four internationals following the World Cup — Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are all absent. That depletion opens space at the top of the order and in the bowling attack.
Alice Monaghan is the obvious candidate to step up. She played a supporting role in Surrey’s 2025 unbeaten run but has shown strong One Day Cup form recently, contributing with both bat and ball (five wickets and 93 runs in her last three outings). Expect Monaghan to occupy a higher batting position and take on greater responsibility as Surrey try to defend their title despite a leaner squad.
Sam Curran: Surrey men pin hopes on their captain
Surrey’s men’s side boasts huge international pedigree — Will Jacks, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Jamie Overton and Sean Abbott among them — yet despite nine appearances on Finals Day they have not won the T20 Blast since the inaugural tournament in 2003. The pressure, as ever, rests with captain Sam Curran.
Curran missed the IPL through injury but remains one of England’s premier limited-overs players, his recent T20 World Cup showing highlighted by crucial last-over interventions. Surrey’s bid for short-form silverware will hinge on Curran returning fully fit and firing with both bat and ball; if he leads from the front, Surrey will be genuine contenders.
Tammy Beaumont: veteran form and leadership at the Blaze
Tammy Beaumont has been left out of England’s current T20 World Cup squad despite a storied international career that includes player-of-the-tournament honours in England’s 2017 World Cup win. At 35, Beaumont is far from finished and the Blast gives her an ideal platform to demonstrate she still belongs in big-match cricket.
Beaumont joins a Blaze side missing six internationals, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, and so has the opportunity to push the team beyond last season’s semi-final run. Recent form is encouraging: she scored 81 with a 162 strike rate in last year’s Blast and has notched two straight half-centuries in the One Day Cup, including an unbeaten 99. Veteran influence and consistent scoring could make this a late-career statement series.
What to watch and where to watch
The 2026 Blast promises a mix of youth and experience, international redemption arcs and fresh opportunities for players sidelined by World Cup selections. Keep an eye on Perrin and Monaghan in the women’s competition as they try to capitalise on expanded roles, and on Coles and Curran in the men’s game as they aim to translate domestic form into international momentum.
Watch the T20 Blast live on Sky Sports. Sky Sports will also stream the Women’s T20 World Cup in full from June 12 to July 5, starting with hosts England against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on opening night.