Overview:
The tournament consists of 20 teams, with four groups of five countries each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight stage, where the eight teams will be divided into two groups of four each. The top two teams from the Super Eight group will then advance to the semifinals, followed by the mega final.
India and Pakistan will face off in the group stage match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15, 2026, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This will be their first meeting since the Asia Cup 2025, where India won all three matches, including the final. The global tournament is scheduled from February 7 to March 8, 2026 and is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The USA, Namibia and the Netherlands are the other teams in the group, according to ESPN Cricinfo. India will start their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, followed by contests against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, and the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.
The tournament consists of 20 teams, with four groups of five countries each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight stage, where the eight teams will be divided into two groups of four each. The top two teams from the Super Eight group will then advance to the semifinals, followed by the mega final.
If India qualify for the Super Eight, the matches will be played in Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. If the Suryakumar Yadav-led team reaches the semifinals, the contest will be held in Mumbai. The second semifinal will be played either in Colombo or Kolkata, depending on the progress of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Narendra Modi Stadium is the venue of the final unless Pakistan make it to the mega match. In that case, the summit clash will be held in Colombo.
India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, and the UAE are participating in the global event.
India are the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the final.