ICC Announces T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule; India and Pakistan Placed in Same Group

New Delhi | November 25, 2025 | DeccanLive.com

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026. This will be the 10th edition of the tournament and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The tournament will start on 7 February, and a total of 55 matches will be played across eight venues. The final will take place on 8 March. During the group stage, there will be three matches every day.

A total of 20 teams will take part, divided into five groups of four teams each. Defending champions India have been placed in an easier group. India is in Group A, along with Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA.

India’s Group Matches

• India will play its first match on 7 February against the USA in Mumbai.
• On 12 February, India will face Namibia in Delhi.
• The high-voltage India vs Pakistan match will be played on 15 February in Colombo.
• India’s last group match will be on 18 February against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad.

Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka.
If Pakistan reaches the final, the final will be held in Colombo. Otherwise, the final will take place in Ahmedabad.

India won the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, defeating South Africa. That tournament was held in the West Indies and USA.

Tournament Format

The format is the same as last time.

• The top two teams from each group move to the Super 8 round.
• In Super 8, teams will again be divided into groups.
• From there, teams will qualify for the semi-finals, followed by the final.

Rohit Sharma, who has retired from both Test and T20I cricket, has been named the Brand Ambassador for the 2026 T20 World Cup. ICC Chairman Jay Shah made the announcement. India last hosted the T20 World Cup in 2016. India has won the T20 World Cup twice—in 2007 under MS Dhoni and in 2024.

Group Distribution

Group A: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Oman, Zimbabwe
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
Italy will be playing in the tournament for the first time.
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

During the schedule announcement, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said it is exciting to hold another ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the subcontinent so soon after a fantastic Women’s World Cup. He said cricket passion in this region is unmatched and fans are eagerly waiting. He also said the schedule announcement brings everyone one step closer to a great tournament.

Teams Playing in T20 World Cup 2026

Along with hosts India and Sri Lanka, the other participating teams are:
Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, USA, West Indies, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, UAE, Netherlands, and Namibia.

T20 World Cup 2026 Venues

In India:

Mumbai – Wankhede Stadium
Kolkata – Eden Gardens
Chennai – MA Chidambaram Stadium
Delhi – Arun Jaitley Stadium
Ahmedabad – Narendra Modi Stadium

In Sri Lanka:

Colombo – R. Premadasa Stadium
Colombo – Sinhalese Sports Club
Kandy – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

Full Schedule

Group A Schedule

7 Feb: Pakistan vs Netherlands – Colombo – 11:00 AM
7 Feb: India vs USA – Mumbai – 7:00 PM
10 Feb: Netherlands vs Namibia – Delhi – 11:00 AM
10 Feb: Pakistan vs USA – Colombo – 7:00 PM
12 Feb: India vs Namibia – Delhi – 7:00 PM
13 Feb: USA vs Netherlands – Chennai – 7:00 PM
15 Feb: USA vs Namibia – Chennai – 3:00 PM
15 Feb: India vs Pakistan – Colombo – 7:00 PM
18 Feb: Pakistan vs Namibia – Colombo – 3:00 PM
18 Feb: India vs Netherlands – Ahmedabad – 7:00 PM

Group B Schedule

8 Feb: Sri Lanka vs Ireland – Colombo – 7:00 PM
9 Feb: Zimbabwe vs Oman – Colombo – 3:00 PM
11 Feb: Australia vs Ireland – Colombo – 3:00 PM
12 Feb: Sri Lanka vs Oman – Kandy – 11:00 AM
13 Feb: Australia vs Zimbabwe – Colombo – 11:00 AM
14 Feb: Ireland vs Oman – Colombo – 11:00 AM
16 Feb: Australia vs Sri Lanka – Kandy – 7:00 PM
17 Feb: Ireland vs Zimbabwe – Kandy – 3:00 PM
19 Feb: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – Colombo – 3:00 PM
20 Feb: Australia vs Oman – Kandy – 7:00 PM

Group C Schedule

7 February: West Indies vs Bangladesh – Kolkata – 3:00 PM
8 February: England vs Nepal – Mumbai – 3:00 PM
9 February: Bangladesh vs Italy – Kolkata – 11:00 AM
11 February: England vs West Indies – Mumbai – 7:00 PM
12 February: Nepal vs Italy – Mumbai – 3:00 PM
14 February: England vs Bangladesh – Kolkata – 3:00 PM
15 February: West Indies vs Nepal – Mumbai – 11:00 AM
16 February: England vs Italy – Kolkata – 3:00 PM
17 February: Bangladesh vs Nepal – Mumbai – 7:00 PM
19 February: West Indies vs Italy – Kolkata – 11:00 AM

Group D Schedule

8 February: New Zealand vs Afghanistan – Chennai – 11:00 AM
9 February: South Africa vs Canada – Ahmedabad – 7:00 PM
10 February: New Zealand vs UAE – Chennai – 3:00 PM
11 February: South Africa vs Afghanistan – Ahmedabad – 11:00 AM
13 February: Canada vs UAE – Delhi – 3:00 PM
14 February: New Zealand vs South Africa – Ahmedabad – 7:00 PM
16 February: Afghanistan vs UAE – Delhi – 11:00 AM
17 February: New Zealand vs Canada – Chennai – 11:00 AM
18 February: South Africa vs UAE – Delhi – 11:00 AM
19 February: Afghanistan vs Canada – Chennai – 7:00 PM

Super 8 and Knockout Schedule

21 February: Y2 vs Y3 – Colombo – 7:00 PM
22 February: Y1 vs Y4 – Kandy – 3:00 PM
22 February: X1 vs X4 – Ahmedabad – 7:00 PM
23 February: X2 vs X3 – Mumbai – 7:00 PM
24 February: Y1 vs Y3 – Kandy – 7:00 PM
25 February: Y2 vs Y4 – Colombo – 7:00 PM
26 February: X3 vs X4 – Ahmedabad – 3:00 PM
26 February: X1 vs X2 – Chennai – 7:00 PM
27 February: Y1 vs Y2 – Colombo – 7:00 PM
28 February: Y3 vs Y4 – Kandy – 7:00 PM
1 March: X2 vs X4 – Delhi – 3:00 PM
1 March: X1 vs X3 – Kolkata – 7:00 PM

Semi-Finals

4 March: First Semi-Final – Kolkata/Colombo – 7:00 PM
5 March: Second Semi-Final – Mumbai – 7:00 PM

Final

8 March: Final – Ahmedabad/Colombo – 7:00 PM