Australia’s journey in the T20 World Cup came to a dramatic end after rain washed out the crucial Ireland vs Zimbabwe clash in Pallekele. The result confirmed their elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026, leaving the 2021 champions devastated. Losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka proved costly in the tightly contested Group B.

The biggest talking point of this T20 World Cup exit was the baffling decision to leave Steve Smith out of the playing XI against Sri Lanka. Drafted into the squad as a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood, Smith was flown in ahead of the must-win game but never featured. His omission from the T20 World Cup clash drew criticism, especially given his explosive Big Bash League form where he scored 299 runs at a strike rate near 170.

Iceland Cricket mocked the move on social media, joking that Smith’s highlight of the T20 World Cup was airport duty-free shopping. The trolling amplified the debate over Australia’s team balance.

Captain Mitchell Marsh admitted the dressing room was “devastated” after Sri Lanka sealed Australia’s fate in the T20 World Cup. He acknowledged the side had not performed at its best and relied on external results to survive.

Australia still have a dead rubber against Oman, but their T20 World Cup hopes are officially over, marking one of their most disappointing ICC campaigns in recent memory.