The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, commenced on February 7th with Pakistan facing the Netherlands in Colombo and India taking on the United States in Mumbai, marking the start of a month-long tournament concluding on March 8th.
This edition of the World Cup features twenty teams competing across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka, totaling 55 matches. The tournament’s structure includes a group stage, followed by a Super 8s phase, and culminating in knockout stages to determine the champion. Italy secured their first-ever qualification for the Men’s T20 World Cup, being placed in Group C alongside England and the West Indies.
Group A sees defending champions India grouped with Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. The grouping of India and Pakistan, long-time rivals in cricket, is anticipated to draw significant viewership and competitive intensity. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament after Bangladesh declined to play matches scheduled in India, citing security concerns.
The tournament format divides the twenty participating teams into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s, where they will be further divided into two groups. From the Super 8s, the top two teams from each group will compete in the semi-finals, ultimately leading to the final match.
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup represents the tenth edition of the tournament, previously hosted by Sri Lanka in 2012 and India in 2016. The International Cricket Council (ICC) organizes the biennial event, which is played in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format.
