‘He’s one to watch’: Ravichandran Ashwin backs Scotland star Brandon McMullen

India’s legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has named Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen as his player to watch in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which gets underway on Saturday, February 7, featuring 20 teams.

Scotland earned a late entry into the tournament after the ICC removed Bangladesh following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s firm refusal to play matches in India, citing security concerns. The Scots have been drawn in Group C alongside the West Indies, England, Italy and Nepal.

Also Read: Tony Pigott, former England fast bowler and ECB official, passes away

Despite acknowledging some limitations in Scotland’s bowling attack, Ashwin believes the side possesses the quality to surprise stronger teams. Speaking on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat, Ashwin highlighted several players who could make an impact during the tournament.

“I think Scotland are a good T20 team. They have some ability in bowling, but it’s a bit restrictive and not really the kind that takes a lot of wickets. That said, they have classy batters,” Ashwin said. “Richie Berrington is an experienced captain, Matthew Cross can really set the tone, and Michael Jones is a classy player who plays strong shots.”

Ashwin reserved special praise for McMullen, revealing he has been tracking the all-rounder closely since his standout performance against Australia in the previous T20 World Cup.

“Brandon McMullen played in the last World Cup and scored a brilliant fifty against Australia. Ever since then, he’s been one of Scotland’s key players. I’ve been keeping an eye on him. He’s definitely a player to watch out for,” Ashwin added.

Scotland began their World Cup preparations with a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Monday, February 2, but suffered a 61-run defeat at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. They are scheduled to play another warm-up fixture against Namibia on Wednesday.

Led by Richie Berrington, Scotland will open their T20 World Cup campaign against the West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.