T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams, Groups & Venues
Last updated: 9 January 2026
February 7 to March 8, 2026. India and Sri Lanka co-host the 10th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 20 teams. 55 matches. 8 venues. India are defending champions. The marquee clash: India vs Pakistan on February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium — a neutral venue per the BCCI-PCB agreement. If Pakistan reaches the final, it shifts from Ahmedabad (132,000 capacity) to Colombo. No team has ever defended the T20 World Cup. India aim to become the first.
Tournament Format
The T20 World Cup 2026 uses a four-stage knockout format:
Group Stage (Feb 7-20): 20 teams in 4 groups of 5. Each team plays 4 matches. Top 2 from each group advance.
Super 8 (Feb 21 - Mar 1): 8 teams split into 2 groups of 4. Pre-seeded based on ICC rankings. Each team plays 3 matches. Top 2 from each advance.
Semi-finals (Mar 4-5): Winner Group 1 vs Runner-up Group 2, and vice versa.
Final (Mar 8): Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Capacity: 132,000 — the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Super 8 Pre-Seeding
Teams are pre-seeded into Super 8 groups based on ICC T20I rankings (as of July 25, 2025). Position is fixed regardless of group stage finish.
| Super 8 Group 1 | Super 8 Group 2 |
|---|---|
| Australia | England |
| India | New Zealand |
| South Africa | Pakistan |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka |
T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A
- 1. India (Defending champions)
- 2. Pakistan (All matches in Sri Lanka)
- 3. USA
- 4. Netherlands
- 5. Namibia
India vs Pakistan: Feb 15, Colombo
Group B
- 1. Sri Lanka (Co-hosts)
- 2. Australia (2021 champions)
- 3. Ireland
- 4. Zimbabwe
- 5. Oman
Group C
- 1. England (2x champions)
- 2. West Indies (2x champions)
- 3. Bangladesh
- 4. Nepal
- 5. Italy (T20 WC debut)
Group D
- 1. South Africa (2024 finalists)
- 2. New Zealand (2021 finalists)
- 3. Afghanistan (Dark horse)
- 4. Canada
- 5. UAE
T20 World Cup 2026 Betting Odds
Outright winner odds from Oddschecker, January 9, 2026.
| Team | Best Odds | bet365 | Betfair | Implied Prob |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2.67 | 2.38 | 2.67 | 37.5% |
| Australia | 5.50 | 5.00 | 5.41 | 18.2% |
| South Africa | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.10 | 15.4% |
| England | 7.00 | 5.50 | 7.47 | 14.3% |
| New Zealand | 17.00 | 17.00 | 12.30 | 5.9% |
| Pakistan | 17.70 | 17.00 | 17.70 | 5.6% |
| West Indies | 21.00 | 21.00 | 10.80 | 4.8% |
| Afghanistan | 29.00 | 26.00 | 49.00 | 3.4% |
| Sri Lanka | 51.00 | 41.00 | 29.00 | 2.0% |
| Bangladesh | 201.00 | 101.00 | 98.00 | 0.5% |
Odds from Oddschecker, January 9, 2026. Best odds highlighted.
Best T20 World Cup Betting Sites
Bet on T20 World Cup 2026 outright winner. These platforms accept Indian bettors and offer competitive odds.
Full Betting Analysis
T20 World Cup 2026 Winner Prediction
Looking for value bets and our probability model? Our dedicated winner prediction page includes edge calculations, team-by-team analysis, and betting recommendations.
Read Winner Prediction →India vs Pakistan: The Marquee Clash
Group A — Neutral Venue
India vs Pakistan
February 15, 2026
7:00 PM IST | 1:30 PM GMT
13
India wins
3
Pakistan wins
Venue
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
35,000 capacity
Why Colombo?
BCCI-PCB neutral venue agreement
December 2024
Historical note: India have won 13 of 16 T20Is vs Pakistan (81% win rate). Same venue hosted their 2012 T20 WC meeting — India won. Pakistan's only T20 WC win vs India was Dubai 2021.
The Neutral Venue Agreement
Following the BCCI-PCB agreement in December 2024:
- All Pakistan matches at ICC events hosted by India or Pakistan (2024-2027 cycle) are played at neutral venues
- Pakistan plays ALL matches in Sri Lanka only during this tournament (Group A matches in Colombo)
- If Pakistan reaches semi-final 1: Shifts from Kolkata to Colombo
- If Pakistan reaches final: Shifts from Ahmedabad to Colombo
This has significant betting implications. If you back Pakistan to reach the final, factor in that they would play on a familiar Sri Lankan pitch rather than a 132,000-strong Indian crowd. New to cricket betting? See our cricket betting guide for the basics.
Venues: 8 Stadiums Across 2 Countries
India Venues (5)
| Venue | City | Capacity | Hosts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 132,000 | FINAL, Super 8 |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 33,000 | India opener, Semi-final 2 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 68,000 | Group stage, Semi-final 1 |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 50,000 | Group stage |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | Delhi | 41,000 | Group stage |
Sri Lanka Venues (3)
| Venue | City | Capacity | Hosts |
|---|---|---|---|
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo | 35,000 | IND vs PAK, PAK matches, Alt. Final |
| Sinhalese Sports Club | Colombo | 12,000 | Opening match (NED vs PAK) |
| Pallekele Stadium | Kandy | 35,000 | Group stage |
Key Dates: T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Date | Match/Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | Tournament opens: Netherlands vs Pakistan | SSC, Colombo |
| Feb 7 | India vs USA | Wankhede, Mumbai |
| Feb 15 | India vs Pakistan | Premadasa, Colombo |
| Feb 20 | Group Stage ends | — |
| Feb 21 | Super 8 begins | — |
| Mar 1 | Super 8 ends | — |
| Mar 4 | Semi-final 1 | Kolkata (or Colombo) |
| Mar 5 | Semi-final 2 | Mumbai |
| Mar 8 | FINAL | Ahmedabad (or Colombo) |
India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
India
DEFENDING CHAMPIONSCaptain: Suryakumar Yadav | VC: Axar Patel
Batters
- Suryakumar Yadav (c) — First ICC event as captain
- Abhishek Sharma — Aggressive opener, SRH
- Sanju Samson — WK-batter, CSK
- Tilak Varma — Young middle-order star
- Ishan Kishan — 517 runs in SMAT
Bowlers
- Jasprit Bumrah — World's best
- Arshdeep Singh — Death specialist
- Harshit Rana — Young pacer
- Varun Chakaravarthy — No.1 T20I bowler
- Kuldeep Yadav — Left-arm wrist spin
All-rounders
- Hardik Pandya — Key finisher
- Axar Patel (vc) — Left-arm spin
- Shivam Dube — Power-hitter
- Washington Sundar — Off-spin + batting
- Rinku Singh — Finisher, returns to squad
Notable omissions: Shubman Gill (dropped), Mohammed Shami (not selected), Rohit Sharma (retired T20I), Virat Kohli (retired T20I), Ravindra Jadeja (retired T20I)
T20 World Cup History: Title Winners
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | India | Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| 2009 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Lord's |
| 2010 | England | Australia | Barbados |
| 2012 | West Indies | Sri Lanka | Colombo |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | India | Dhaka |
| 2016 | West Indies | England | Kolkata |
| 2021 | Australia | New Zealand | Dubai |
| 2022 | England | Pakistan | Melbourne |
| 2024 | India | South Africa | Barbados |
Title Count
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| India | 2 | 2007, 2024 |
| England | 2 | 2010, 2022 |
| West Indies | 2 | 2012, 2016 |
| Pakistan | 1 | 2009 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 2014 |
| Australia | 1 | 2021 |
No team has ever defended the T20 World Cup. India aim to become the first in 2026. Follow our prediction track record to see how our tips perform throughout the tournament.
T20 World Cup 2026 FAQ
When is T20 World Cup 2026?
T20 World Cup 2026 runs from February 7 to March 8, 2026. The tournament features 55 matches across 8 venues in India and Sri Lanka over 30 days.
When is India vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup 2026?
India vs Pakistan is on February 15, 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The match is at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka due to the BCCI-PCB agreement from December 2024.
Where is T20 World Cup 2026 being held?
T20 World Cup 2026 is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India hosts 5 venues (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad) and Sri Lanka hosts 3 venues (Colombo x2, Kandy). The final is at Ahmedabad unless Pakistan qualifies.
How many teams are in T20 World Cup 2026?
20 teams compete in 4 groups of 5. Top 2 from each group advance to the Super 8. From the Super 8, top 2 from each group go to semi-finals. 55 matches across 8 venues.
Why is the final venue conditional on Pakistan?
Per the BCCI-PCB agreement (December 2024), Pakistan plays all matches in Sri Lanka. If Pakistan reaches the final, it moves from Ahmedabad to Colombo. Same applies if Pakistan reaches semi-final 1 (Kolkata to Colombo).
Who is the favourite to win T20 World Cup 2026?
India are the betting favourites at odds of 2.67. They are defending champions with home advantage. For detailed betting analysis and value picks, see our T20 World Cup winner prediction.
What is the T20 World Cup 2026 format?
The format has 4 stages: Group Stage (20 teams in 4 groups), Super 8 (8 teams in 2 groups), Semi-finals, and Final. Teams are pre-seeded into Super 8 groups based on ICC rankings.
Has any team defended the T20 World Cup?
No team has ever defended the T20 World Cup title. India won in 2007 and 2024. If they win 2026, they would be the first-ever back-to-back champions. West Indies came closest (2012, 2016) but not consecutive.
Summary
T20 World Cup 2026: What You Need to Know
- ● Dates: February 7 – March 8, 2026
- ● Hosts: India (5 venues) & Sri Lanka (3 venues)
- ● Format: 20 teams → 4 groups → Super 8 → Semi-finals → Final
- ● Favourite: India @ 2.67 (defending champions, home advantage)
- ● India vs Pakistan: February 15, Colombo (neutral venue)
- ● Final: March 8, Ahmedabad (or Colombo if PAK qualifies)
- ● Betting Analysis: Winner prediction & value bets →
Looking for individual match predictions? Visit our cricket betting tips page for daily predictions once the tournament begins. You can also view our upcoming matches schedule for all leagues.
Odds and analysis accurate as of January 9, 2026. Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly.