Get the complete ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule, match list, venues, and squads. India and Sri Lanka host the 20-team mega event starting Feb 7. Download the 2026 T20 WC PDF fixture list now.
Breaking News: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is officially coming to India and Sri Lanka. Starting February 7, 2026, twenty nations will battle for the ultimate crown in the 10th edition of the tournament. Defending champions India will kick off their campaign against the USA at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium.
1. ICC T20 World Cup 2026: The Ultimate Tournament Overview
The T20 World Cup 2026 marks a historic return of the mega-event to Indian soil after 10 years. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament features a revamped format with 20 teams and 55 total matches.
Quick Tournament Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Nations | India & Sri Lanka |
| Start Date | February 7, 2026 |
| Final Match | March 8, 2026 |
| Defending Champions | India |
| Total Teams | 20 |
| Total Matches | 55 |
2. Official T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five sides each.
- Group A: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA
- Group B: Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy
- Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, Canada
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Feb | Pakistan vs Netherlands | SSC, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| 07-Feb | West Indies vs Scotland | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 03:00 PM |
| 07-Feb | India vs USA | Wankhede, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| 08-Feb | New Zealand vs Afghanistan | MA Chidambaram, Chennai | 11:00 AM |
| 08-Feb | England vs Nepal | Wankhede, Mumbai | 03:00 PM |
| 08-Feb | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | R. Premadasa, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| 11-Feb | England vs West Indies | Wankhede, Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| 12-Feb | India vs Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 07:00 PM |
| 15-Feb | India vs Pakistan | R. Premadasa, Colombo | 07:00 PM |
| 18-Feb | India vs Netherlands | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 07:00 PM |
4. The High-Voltage Rivalry: India vs Pakistan 2026
The biggest rivalry in cricket is scheduled for February 15, 2026. The match will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Controversy Alert: Recent reports suggest the Pakistan government has announced a potential boycott of the match against India on Feb 15. However, if they participate and qualify for the knockouts, their semi-final and final matches are pre-assigned to Colombo.
5. Tournament Format: The Road to the Final
The 2026 edition follows a three-stage progression:
- Group Stage: 20 teams split into 4 groups. The top two from each group advance.
- Super 8: 8 qualifying teams are split into two groups of four.
- Knockouts: The top two from each Super 8 group enter the Semi-finals (March 4 & 5).
6. Official Team Squads (Top Contenders)
Team India Squad
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
- Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Team Australia Squad
- Captain: Mitchell Marsh
- Squad: Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Team England Squad
- Captain: Harry Brook
- Squad: Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
7. Host Cities and Stadiums
Matches will be held across eight world-class venues.
In India:
- Ahmedabad: Narendra Modi Stadium (Final & Semi-final host)
- Mumbai: Wankhede Stadium (Semi-final host)
- Kolkata: Eden Gardens (Semi-final host)
- Delhi: Arun Jaitley Stadium
- Chennai: MA Chidambaram Stadium
In Sri Lanka:
- Colombo: R. Premadasa Stadium & Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC)
- Kandy: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
8. How to Watch T20 World Cup 2026 Live?
Stay connected with every ball through official broadcasters:
- TV Telecast (India): Star Sports Network.
- Live Streaming (India): JioHotstar app and website.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When is the T20 World Cup 2026 Final?
A: The final is scheduled for March 8, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Q: Who is the captain of India for the 2026 World Cup?
A: Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian team.
Q: Which team is replacing Bangladesh in 2026?
A: Scotland has replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.