India enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions following their title triumph in the Caribbean and the United States in 2024. Playing in familiar home conditions across India and Sri Lanka, they are among the tournament favourites, although the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket ensures an open and thrilling contest.
The 2026 edition marks the 10th staging of the Men’s T20 World Cup, featuring 20 teams and a packed schedule stretching over a month.
The tournament begins on 7 February 2026 at 05:30 GMT, with Pakistan facing the Netherlands in Colombo.
Three matches are scheduled on the opening day:
Pakistan vs Netherlands – 05:30
West Indies vs Scotland – 09:30
India vs USA – 15:30
The group stage runs until 20 February, featuring three matches daily, except the final group-stage day, which will have a single game at 13:30 GMT.
Super 8s: One or two matches per day at 09:30 and 13:30
Semi-finals: 4 and 5 March
Final: Sunday, 8 March, at 13:30 BST
The final is scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad, subject to qualification conditions.
Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy
Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Each team plays four matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super 8s.
Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy
Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
All match start times are in GMT
Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo SSC)
Pakistan won by three wickets
West Indies vs Scotland (Kolkata)
West Indies won by 35 runs
India vs USA (Mumbai)
India won by 29 runs
New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai)
New Zealand won by five wickets
England vs Nepal (Mumbai)
England won by four runs
Sri Lanka vs Ireland (Colombo RPS)
Sri Lanka won by 20 runs
Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata)
Scotland won by 73 runs
Zimbabwe vs Oman (Colombo SSC)
Zimbabwe won by eight wickets
South Africa vs Canada (Ahmedabad, 13:30)
Netherlands vs Namibia (Delhi, 05:30)
New Zealand vs UAE (Chennai, 09:30)
Pakistan vs USA (Colombo SSC, 13:30)
South Africa vs Afghanistan (Ahmedabad, 05:30)
Australia vs Ireland (Colombo RPS, 09:30)
England vs West Indies (Mumbai, 13:30)
Sri Lanka vs Oman (Pallekele, 05:30)
Nepal vs Italy (Mumbai, 09:30)
India vs Namibia (Delhi, 13:30)
Australia vs Zimbabwe (Colombo RPS, 05:30)
Canada vs UAE (Delhi, 09:30)
USA vs Netherlands (Chennai, 13:30)
Ireland vs Oman (Colombo SSC, 05:30)
England vs Scotland (Kolkata, 09:30)
New Zealand vs South Africa (Ahmedabad, 13:30)
West Indies vs Nepal (Mumbai, 05:30)
USA vs Namibia (Chennai, 09:30)
India vs Pakistan (Colombo RPS, 13:30)
Afghanistan vs UAE (Delhi, 05:30)
England vs Italy (Kolkata, 09:30)
Australia vs Sri Lanka (Pallekele, 13:30)
New Zealand vs Canada (Chennai, 05:30)
Ireland vs Zimbabwe (Pallekele, 09:30)
Scotland vs Nepal (Mumbai, 13:30)
South Africa vs UAE (Delhi, 05:30)
Pakistan vs Namibia (Colombo SSC, 09:30)
India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad, 13:30)
West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata, 05:30)
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo RPS, 09:30)
Afghanistan vs Canada (Chennai, 13:30)
Australia vs Oman (Pallekele, 13:30)
February 21: Y2 vs Y3 (Colombo RPS, 13:30)
February 22:
Y1 vs Y4 (Pallekele, 09:30)
X1 vs X4 (Ahmedabad, 13:30)
February 23: X2 vs X3 (Mumbai, 13:30)
February 24: Y1 vs Y3 (Pallekele, 13:30)
February 25: Y2 vs Y4 (Colombo RPS, 13:30)
February 26:
X3 vs X4 (Ahmedabad, 09:30)
X1 vs X2 (Chennai, 13:30)
February 27: Y1 vs Y2 (Colombo RPS, 13:30)
February 28: Y3 vs Y4 (Pallekele, 13:30)
March 1:
X2 vs X4 (Delhi, 09:30)
X1 vs X3 (Kolkata, 13:30)
March 4: Semi-final 1 (Kolkata or Colombo, 13:30)
March 5: Semi-final 2 (Mumbai, 13:30)
March 8: Final (Ahmedabad or Colombo, 13:30)
All 12 Test-playing nations have qualified.
Italy are tournament debutants
Canada return to a global tournament for the first time since 2014
Scotland replaced Bangladesh after the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to move matches from India to Sri Lanka due to safety concerns.
Pakistan considered a boycott but will participate under an agreement reached in 2024 that India–Pakistan matches will not be played in each other’s countries.
India (5 venues):
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Sri Lanka (3 venues):
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Pallekele Cricket Stadium
The Narendra Modi Stadium, with a capacity of 132,000, is the largest cricket venue in the world and is scheduled to host the final unless Pakistan qualify, in which case the match moves to Colombo.
Matches are played over 20 overs per side
Six-over powerplay in each innings
Matches last approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes
Each innings is allocated 1 hour and 25 minutes
A ‘stop-clock’ rule requires the bowling side to be ready within 60 seconds
Each team gets:
Two unsuccessful reviews per innings
If scores are level:
A super over is played
Additional super overs follow until a winner is decided
Minimum overs for a result:
5 overs in group stages
10 overs in semi-finals and final
DLS will be used if weather intervenes after the minimum overs.
2007 – India
2009 – Pakistan
2010 – England
2012 – West Indies
2014 – Sri Lanka
2016 – West Indies
2021 – Australia
2022 – England
2024 – India
Conclusion
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 promises a month of high-intensity cricket, featuring top teams, iconic venues, and a proven format that rew