The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially unveiled the complete schedule for the 2026 T20 World Cup on November 25, announcing that India and Sri Lanka will co-host the marquee event from February 7 to March 8. The month-long tournament will feature 55 matches across eight world-class venues, with 20 teams divided into four groups of five, then advancing to the Super Eight stage and the knockouts.
With both nations sharing hosting duties, the 2026 edition promises to be one of the most logistically streamlined and commercially high-profile World Cups ever held in the subcontinent. India, the defending champions, have been drawn in Group A alongside traditional rivals Pakistan, the United States, the Netherlands and Namibia. It’s a group that combines fierce historic rivalries with exciting emerging nations, creating a diverse and competitive start to India’s title defence.
The ICC confirmed that India’s group matches will be hosted across three Indian cities in addition to Colombo. India will begin their campaign on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Their second match will be played on February 12 against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The biggest highlight of the group stage — arguably of the entire tournament — arrives on February 15 when India lock horns with Pakistan at Colombo’s iconic R Premadasa Stadium.
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The rivalry that transcends cricket will once again take centre stage, drawing massive global viewership. India will close their group stage on February 18 against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
One of the most notable elements of the schedule is the decision to host three matches per day during the group stage, slotted at 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm. This approach not only maximises fan engagement globally but also accommodates prime-time viewing in Asia.
The schedule for ICC Men’s @T20WorldCup 2026 is here! 📅
The matches and groups were unveiled at a gala event in Mumbai led by ICC Chairman @JayShah, and with new tournament ambassador @ImRo45 and Indian team captains @surya_14kumar and Harmanpreet Kaur in attendance.
✍️:… pic.twitter.com/fsjESpJPlE
— ICC (@ICC) November 25, 2025
At the unveiling event in Mumbai, former India captain Rohit Sharma — who lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup — was present alongside Suryakumar Yadav and Harmanpreet Kaur. ICC Chairman Jay Shah surprised the audience by announcing Sharma as the official brand ambassador of the 2026 tournament, recognising his stature and impact on the format.
India entered the 2026 edition as reigning champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in a dramatic final in Barbados in 2024. That triumph, their second T20 World Cup crown after the historic 2007 win, further cemented India’s dominance in the shortest format.
Full Groups for T20 World Cup 2026
- Group A: India, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Namibia
- 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
If India progress to the Super Eight, their fixtures will be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata. In case of a semi-final appearance, India will play in Mumbai, while the alternate semi-final will take place either in Colombo or Kolkata depending on whether Pakistan or Sri Lanka qualify. The final is scheduled for Ahmedabad, with Colombo reserved as backup should Pakistan reach the summit clash.
Host Venues
India
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sri Lanka
- R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
- Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy
India’s Group Fixtures
- Feb 7: India vs USA, Mumbai
- Feb 12: India vs Namibia, New Delhi
- Feb 15: India vs Pakistan, Colombo
- Feb 18: India vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad
The ICC also released the full tournament fixtures, covering every group match, the Super Eight schedule and the knockout rounds. From Pakistan vs Netherlands in Colombo to Australia vs Sri Lanka in Kandy and England vs West Indies in Mumbai, the early fixtures promise to set the tournament alight.
The Super Eight phase begins on February 26, followed by the semi-finals on March 4 and 5. The grand finale will be played on March 8, either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on qualifying permutations.
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With the schedule now finalised, teams will begin fine-tuning their plans — from squad rotation and workload management to strategic matchups and venue-based preparations. And suppose there is one contest that has already taken the global spotlight. In that case, it is India vs Pakistan on February 15 — a matchup set to headline what promises to be one of the most captivating T20 World Cups in history.
