ICC Men’s T20 World Cup everything you need to know

Cricket’s shortest global spectacle is under way: the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 promises non-stop action, bursting crowds and fierce competition as 20 nations battle for T20 supremacy across India and Sri Lanka. If you’re gearing up for one of the sport’s most anticipated tournaments, here’s everything you need to know about the format, teams, venues, schedules, and storylines shaping this year’s showpiece.

🏏 What Is the T20 World Cup?

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is the premier Twenty20 international cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council, featuring the world’s best teams in a fast-paced, high-octane format. The T20 format limits each side to 20 overs, producing explosive batting, strategic bowling, and thrilling finishes that have catapulted the event into one of cricket’s most popular global competitions.

The 2026 edition is the 10th Men’s T20 World Cup, following previous tournaments that have crowned champions like India, England, and West Indies.

📅 When and Where Is the Tournament?

The tournament began on 7 February 2026 and runs until 8 March 2026. It’s being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches spread across eight venues — five in India and three in Sri Lanka.

Host Venues:
• India: Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai)
• Sri Lanka: R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (Colombo), Pallekele Stadium (Kandy)

The final is set for 8 March, with India chasing history as the defending champions.

🧠 Tournament Format

This edition features 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Each team plays the others in its group once, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the Super 8 stage. From there:

Two Super 8 groups of four teams each
Top two from each group advance to the semi-finals
Winners of the semis meet in the grand final on March 8

In total, 55 matches will be played over 29 days.

🏆 Teams and Groups

Here’s how the 20 teams are split:

Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

A late twist saw Scotland replace Bangladesh after the board declined to travel to India for group matches before the tournament’s start.

🏏 Key Fixtures to Watch

One of the marquee clashes expected this year is India vs Pakistan, scheduled for 15 February in Colombo — always one of the most-watched matches in cricketing history.

Defending champions India kick off their campaign on the opening day against the USA, aiming to become the first host nation to retain the T20 World Cup title.

📺 How to Watch

Matches will be broadcast globally via official ICC partners on TV and streaming platforms. Fans across continents can tune into live coverage, highlights and analysis through broadcasters specified by the ICC — ensuring no moment is missed as the action unfolds.

🌍 What Makes It Special

This edition stands out for several reasons:

Expanded global representation: With 20 teams from across five continents, the tournament showcases emerging cricket nations and traditional powers alike.
Intense format: The Super 8s and knockout structure means every match carries significant weight.
Passionate fan engagement: From packed stadiums in India to vocal crowds in Sri Lanka, the atmosphere is expected to be electric.
Trophy tour build-up: Ahead of the tournament, the ICC organised a T20 World Cup trophy tour across multiple countries to ignite excitement and connect fans with the event.

🔥 Tournament Storylines

As captains and players prepare, many are predicting big scores and record-breaking performances thanks to favourable batting conditions in India. Some captains even hinted the elusive 300-run mark could be challenged during group play — a testament to the aggression shaping modern T20 cricket.

Meanwhile, geopolitical developments involving team participation — such as Pakistan’s stance on matches in India — have added broader narratives to the cricketing action.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the sport, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup offers something for every cricket enthusiast: thrilling play, emerging talent, and global spectacle over nearly a month of action.