The world’s fastest-growing cricket tournament, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, is returning to South Asia. The 10th edition of the tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. The world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, is all set to hand over the title to the champions, with the final to be held on March 8. 20 teams will play 55 matches across the tournament.The complete schedule of the tournament and the match venues were recently announced at a grand event in Mumbai. Let’s take a look at all the important aspects of this grand event.
Tournament Basics: When, Where, How Many Teams?
The 2026 T20 World Cup will be another milestone in the history of the joint event. 20 national teams will face off in a total of 55 matches to prove their superiority. The tournament will follow the successful 2024 model, where the top two teams from the group stage will advance to the Super Eights, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
Rohit Sharma, who won the last T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa in the final, has been announced as the brand ambassador of the tournament, which is a special attraction for fans.
Stadiums and venues: Eight iconic venues in both countries
A total of eight stadiums will host the matches, five in India and three in Sri Lanka.
- India: Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium (for the final), Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium (scheduled for the semi-finals and host of the opening match), Kolkata’s Eden Gardens (scheduled for the semi-finals), Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium and Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
- Sri Lanka: Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) and Kandy’s Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
The final is scheduled for March 8 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. However, there is a special condition: if Pakistan reaches the final, the final will be shifted to Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Similarly, the venue of the semi-finals (Kolkata and Mumbai) may also change depending on Pakistan’s progress.
Group stage and important matches
In the first phase of the tournament, 20 teams have been divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eights.
- Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Namibia, Netherlands.
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman.
- Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal.
- Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, United Arab Emirates.
Importantly, all matches of the Pakistan national team will be played in Sri Lankan venues due to political and security agreements. Similarly, all matches of Sri Lanka (Group B) will be played in their home country.
The much-awaited encounter: India vs Pakistan
The most anticipated match of any World Cup is back. The two giants of Group A will clash on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India’s opening match will be against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7.
Bangladesh’s competition: Challenge in Group C
Bangladesh has been drawn in Group C. They will face England, West Indies, Italy and Nepal. All of Bangladesh’s group stage matches will be played between February 7 and 17. The Tigers will look to establish a strong position early on by facing strong teams like the West Indies and England.
Tickets and spectator experience
Tickets for the tournament are on sale now. Ticket prices for some venues in India start at just INR 100, while for Sri Lanka, they start at INR 1000. Interested spectators can register and purchase tickets by visiting ICC’s official website, tickets.cricketworldcup.com
Cricket festival in the subcontinent again
India and Sri Lanka are set to jointly host an extraordinary cricket festival in 2026. Cricket fans will get a chance to witness exciting group matches, traditional rivalries and the emergence of new stars. This grand event will run from February to March. Mark the schedule for your favorite team and get ready to be a part of this history by buying tickets! Read more
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