Table of Contents
- Overview — dates, hosts and format
- India’s group-stage fixtures (full dates & venues)
- India vs Pakistan — what to expect on Feb 15 in Colombo
- Groups, Super Eight and tournament structure
- Host venues: India & Sri Lanka (stadium list)
- Key matches and scheduling notes
- Tickets, travel and tips for fans
- Conclusion — why this edition matters
Overview — dates, hosts and format
The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially announced the schedule for the ICC Men’sT20 World Cup 2026 Schedule on November 25, 2025. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka and runs from 7 February to 8 March 2026, featuring 20 teams, 55 matches and a format that moves teams from four groups of five into a Super Eight stage before the knockout semifinals and final. The ICC confirmed Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium as the primary venue for the final on 8 March 2026, with Colombo listed as the alternate should Pakistan reach the title match.
India’s group-stage fixtures (full dates & venues)
Defending champions India have been placed in Group A and will play four group matches across Indian cities and Colombo. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ICC confirmed the Men in Blue open their title defence against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on 7 February. India then travel to New Delhi to face Namibia on 12 February, before the high-stakes India vs Pakistan match in Colombo on 15 February. India finish the group stage against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 18 February. These fixtures set up a compact, high-pressure group run that mixes home advantage with a neutral-venue blockbuster.
India vs Pakistan — what to expect on Feb 15 in Colombo
The India–Pakistan T20 fixture is cricket’s most-watched bilateral encounter, and the ICC has scheduled this meeting for 15 February 2026 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Expect an electric atmosphere: millions of viewers worldwide, packed stands in Colombo and intense media scrutiny. Strategically, the game could be decisive for both teams’ Super Eight chances given the strength of Group A; a win here gives the victor an early points cushion. Political and security considerations mean Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, so Colombo acts as a neutral-but-accessible venue for fans across South Asia.
Groups, Super Eight and tournament structure
The 20 teams are divided into four groups (A–D) of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight phase, which is scheduled across multiple Indian venues. From the Super Eight, the best four teams will move to the semifinals and then the final. The official group lineups are:
- 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
This structure guarantees variety in early matchups and preserves a Super Eight round designed to filter the best-performing teams before the knockouts. The schedule also features three group-stage matches per day at staggered timings (11:00, 15:00 and 19:00 local), enabling broader television windows and fan engagement across time zones.
Host venues: India & Sri Lanka (stadium list)
Matches will be played across eight venues. India hosts five stadiums while Sri Lanka contributes three grounds. The confirmed stadiums are:
- India: Arun Jaitley Stadium (New 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)
These venues combine capacity, broadcast infrastructure and regional balance—Ahmedabad and Mumbai will host marquee Super Eight and knockout fixtures, while Colombo’s Premadasa and SSC will stage key group and knockout games in the island nation.
Key matches and scheduling notes
A few scheduling highlights and matches to watch for tournament narratives:
- Opening Day (7 Feb): India vs USA at Wankhede is the marquee opening-night clash for hosts; Pakistan vs Netherlands opens in Colombo earlier that day.
- IND vs PAK (15 Feb): The headline match at 19:00 IST in Colombo—global TV and sponsorship interest will peak here.
- Super Eight run: India’s Super Eight fixtures are slated for Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata if they advance—home advantage could matter significantly.
- Knockouts (4–8 Mar): Semifinals are assigned to Mumbai and either Kolkata or Colombo; the final is set for Ahmedabad, with Colombo as the alternate venue if Pakistan qualify.
The tournament also adopts a schedule that may require teams to manage travel and recovery carefully; several teams will have short turnarounds between fixtures, adding an element of workload management to selection strategies.
Tickets, travel and tips for fans
With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting, many fans will travel across borders—especially for the India–Pakistan match in Colombo. Key practical notes:
- Tickets: Official tickets and hospitality packages will be sold via the ICC’s ticketing portal and designated ticketing partners—watch ICC announcements and authorized vendors to avoid fraud.
- Travel & Visas: International fans should check visa requirements for Sri Lanka and India early, as demand and processing times may increase around match dates.
- Accommodation: Book well ahead for matches in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Colombo—these cities will be under heavy demand.
- Security & Entry: Expect tight security at high-profile fixtures; follow local and ICC guidance for permitted items, camera and drone restrictions.
Fans should also keep an eye on broadcast windows in their region—three matches a day means some games will air in daytime slots in certain time zones and prime time in others.
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Conclusion — why this edition matters
The T20 World Cup 2026 is a landmark event: a subcontinental co-hosting model, 20-team format and an India–Pakistan fixture at a neutral Sri Lankan venue that will dominate global attention. For India, defending champions and playing on home soil for much of the tournament, expectations are high. For emerging teams such as the USA, Nepal, Italy and the Netherlands, this tournament is a major stage to accelerate development and global recognition. With the schedule unlocked, teams and fans can now plan squads, logistics and travel for what promises to be one of the most-watched cricket events of the decade.
Full India Group Fixtures (Quick Reference)
- 07 Feb 2026 – India vs USA – Mumbai (Wankhede)
- 12 Feb 2026 – India vs Namibia – New Delhi (Arun Jaitley)
- 15 Feb 2026 – India vs Pakistan – Colombo (R. Premadasa Stadium)
- 18 Feb 2026 – India vs Netherlands – Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)
Sources: ICC media release and tournament fixtures; Reuters and Indian national sports coverage from the schedule reveal on 25 November 2025.
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