T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: India–Pakistan In Same Group; Final On March 8
T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: India–Pakistan In Same Group; Final On March 8
The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka across eight venues, with venue shifts planned depending on Pakistan’s qualification.
The ICC has released the full schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026, confirming that defending champions India will open the tournament on February 7 against the United States in Mumbai. The event will run until March 8 and will be played across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group once again. Their much-anticipated clash will take place on February 15 in Sri Lanka, with Pakistan scheduled to play all their group-stage matches in Colombo. India will conclude their league campaign on February 18 against the Netherlands.
The tournament will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of five.
Group A includes India, Pakistan, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands.
Group B features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman.
Group C includes England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal and Italy, while
Group D comprises South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada and the UAE.
Matches will be held in Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai in India, along with Colombo and Kandy in Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s matches have been entirely assigned to Colombo due to bilateral protocols.
Knockout fixtures have been structured with flexibility. The second semi-final will be hosted in Mumbai, while the venue for the first semi-final either Kolkata or Colombo will depend on Pakistan’s qualification. The final on March 8 will be played in Ahmedabad if Pakistan do not qualify. If they enter the title match, the final will be moved to Colombo.
In a major announcement, Rohit Sharma has been named the official ambassador for the 2026 edition. As a former T20 World Cup-winning captain, he will be part of promotional events and activities in the lead-up to the tournament.
