The International Cricket Council has officially unveiled the much-anticipated schedule for the 2026 T20 World Cup, setting the stage for an exciting month-long cricket extravaganza across India and Sri Lanka. The tournament will feature 20 teams competing across eight premier venues from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
Tournament Opening and Key Matches
The cricketing spectacle will commence on February 7, 2026 in Colombo with Pakistan taking on the Netherlands in the inaugural match. Later the same day, the West Indies will face Bangladesh in Kolkata, while defending champions India begin their title defense against the United States in Mumbai during the evening session.
Team India's campaign continues with a match against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, followed by the highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. The Men in Blue will conclude their group stage matches against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.
Venues and Hosting Arrangements
The tournament will be jointly hosted across eight international cricket grounds - five in India and three in Sri Lanka. The Indian venues include Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), and Eden Gardens (Kolkata).
The Sri Lankan venues feature R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground (Colombo), and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy). The group stage will see three matches played daily across different venues.
Knockout Stage and Special Provisions
In a unique arrangement, the ICC has established alternate knockout venues based on Pakistan's progression in the tournament. If Pakistan reaches the semifinals or final, those matches will be held in Colombo. Should Pakistan not qualify for the final, the championship match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026.
The semifinals are scheduled for March 4-5, with Mumbai and Kolkata hosting these crucial matches if Pakistan isn't involved in the knockout stage. The tournament will span 29 days of intense cricketing action.
Complete Group Composition
The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each:
- Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
- Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Cricket fans can look forward to an action-packed tournament with multiple matches daily during the group stage, culminating in what promises to be an electrifying knockout phase. The 2026 T20 World Cup marks another chapter in the growing cricketing partnership between India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts.
