T20 World Cup 2026: The countdown to the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup officially kicks off today, with the ICC revealed the full fixture list for what promises to be one of the most anticipated tournaments in recent years. Big names like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Angelo Mathews and Harmanpreet Kaur were in the attendance for the announcement,
India enter the tournament as defending champions, having finally ended their long ICC trophy drought with the 2024 T20 World Cup win in the USA and West Indies. With the schedule drop, the focus now shifts to how the hosts will navigate their home title defence and which cities get to stage the biggest moments.
The schedule for ICC Men’s @T20WorldCup 2026 is here! 📅
— ICC (@ICC) November 25, 2025
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.
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T20 World Cup 2026 – Team India Full Schedule:
The BCCI shortlisted five Indian venues for the event: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, while Sri Lanka is set to host matches across three locations, including Colombo. India set to play against Pakistan in Colombo.
T20 World Cup 2026 – Date and Time
India to kick off their campaign on February 7 against the USA in Mumbai, followed by their second group match against Namibia on February 12 in Delhi. The Men in Blue will wrap up the group stage against Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad.
T20 World Cup 2026 – Venues
India to play in 5 venues – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Venues for the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2026 have been locked in 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/PIYTvzRWly
— ICC (@ICC) November 25, 2025
Tournament Format and Teams Locked In
Most of the framework is already in place. The event will follow the now-familiar 20-team structure: four groups of five, followed by a Super-8 stage, then the semi-finals and final. The line-up is set too, with cricket’s traditional heavyweights – India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Bangladesh joined by fast-rising teams like Nepal, Oman, the UAE and Italy.
The early group projections have already sparked plenty of chatter. India find themselves in what looks like a manageable group with Pakistan, the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have drawn what many are calling the “group of death,” featuring Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman. Only two teams progress from each group, meaning one major side could bow out early.
Pakistan to Play Exclusively in Sri Lanka
A key operational detail already confirmed is the neutral-venue arrangement for Pakistan’s matches. All of Pakistan’s games – including the blockbuster clash against India will be staged in Sri Lanka. It adds another twist to an already complex tournament, especially with the cross-border rivalry scheduled to unfold outside India.
Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi will host for India-based fixtures. Colombo and Kandy to headline Sri Lanka’s share of the tournament. Ahmedabad is preferred venue for the final unless Pakistan makes it there, in which case Colombo becomes the alternate.
The stage is nearly set for T20 cricket’s biggest spectacle and the world is ready for the first ball.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026: When is India vs Pakistan match? Check date and venue
