The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the schedule for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. According to reports, India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group and will face each other on February 15 in Colombo. The tournament format remains unchanged, with 20 teams divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage.
India will open their campaign against the United States in Mumbai on February 7, followed by matches against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, and the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. If India advance to the semifinals, matches will be held in Mumbai and either Colombo or Kolkata, depending on other qualifying teams, while the final is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad.
Before the World Cup, India has 10 preparatory matches lined up. They will face South Africa in a five-match series, followed by a five-match series against New Zealand.
India and Pakistan have met eight times previously in T20 World Cups, with India winning seven of those encounters. Their upcoming match in Colombo will be the first meeting since the Asia Cup, where India claimed victory in all three contests.
The other teams in India and Pakistan’s group are reported to include the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands. The tournament will feature 20 qualified teams, including hosts India and Sri Lanka, as well as Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada, Italy, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
Fans and analysts alike are looking forward to the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash, which is expected to be one of the marquee matches of the T20 World Cup 2026.
