The International Cricket Council (ICC) made a significant announcement on Tuesday, revealing the complete schedule for the much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, marking another exciting chapter in cricket's shortest format.
Tournament Kick-off and India's Fixtures
The championship will commence on 7th February 2026 with defending champions India taking on the United States at Mumbai's iconic stadium. The Men in Blue will then face Namibia on 12th February in Delhi, followed by one of the most awaited matches of the tournament against arch-rivals Pakistan on 15th February in Sri Lanka.
India will conclude their group stage campaign against the Netherlands on 18th February, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying tournament.
Group Allocations and Team Distribution
The ICC has divided the participating teams into four competitive groups:
- Group A: India, Namibia, United States, Pakistan, Netherlands
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
- Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Venue Strategy and Pakistan's Special Arrangement
The tournament will utilize eight world-class venues across both host nations - five in India and three in Sri Lanka. The confirmed venues include Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Colombo, and Kandy.
In a notable decision, Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo, ensuring consistent playing conditions for the team throughout the group stage.
The semi-final arrangements have been designed with flexibility in mind. The first semi-final will be held either in Kolkata or Colombo, depending on Pakistan's qualification status. The second semi-final is scheduled for Mumbai regardless of team progression.
The final, set for 8th March 2026, will be hosted at Colombo if Pakistan qualifies, while the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will stage the championship match if Pakistan doesn't reach the ultimate round.
Rohit Sharma Named Tournament Ambassador
Adding star power to the event, ICC chairman Jay Shah revealed that former T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma will serve as the tournament ambassador for the 2026 edition.
In his social media announcement, Shah emphasized that there could be "no better representative" for the event than Sharma, who not only led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup but has also participated in all nine editions of the tournament so far.
This appointment adds significant prestige to the tournament, connecting it with one of India's most celebrated cricketing heroes and his recent triumphant campaign.
