Mumbai, Nov 25 (NationPress) The reigning champions India are set to clash with their long-standing rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15, 2026. This match follows their group stage opener against the underdogs United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, 2026.

India finds itself in Group A, alongside Netherlands and Namibia.

Historically, no nation has ever managed to defend their title in the T20 World Cup, and the hosts India aim to break this trend. Their subsequent group stage matches include facing Namibia on February 12 in New Delhi and concluding against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18, 2026.

This edition of the T20 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 20 teams for the first time, competing in a total of 55 matches across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka starting from February 7, 2026. The announcement was made by ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta in Mumbai, in the presence of notable personalities including ICC Chair Jay Shah, two-time T20 WC champion Rohit Sharma, India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Harmanpreet Kaur, among others.

Matches will occur at venues such as the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In Sri Lanka, the matches will be hosted at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, and Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.

The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five teams each, with the top two from each group progressing to the Super 8 stage.

In Group A, the spotlight is on India vs Pakistan, famously dubbed the Group of Death by Rohit Sharma, while the Netherlands and USA—who surprised Pakistan in the last tournament—could create upsets.

Group B features Sri Lanka facing tough opponents in Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman. Australia will kick off against Ireland, while Zimbabwe returns to the World Cup with a match against the co-hosts.

Group C includes Bangladesh, first-time qualifiers Italy, and Nepal, headed by two-time champions England and West Indies. England will take on West Indies on February 11 in Mumbai, marking Italy's historic debut.

Group D is perhaps the most formidable, featuring Afghanistan, South Africa, and New Zealand, the semifinalists from 2024. Canada and UAE round out the group, but the major clashes will be South Africa vs Afghanistan and New Zealand vs South Africa, scheduled for Ahmedabad.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage, which will be divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each Super Eight pool will advance to the semifinals, culminating in the final on March 8 to crown the 2026 champion.

Rohit Sharma, a veteran of every T20 World Cup since its inception, expressed his excitement for the growing participation, stating, “It’s heartening to see so many nations involved, highlighting our sport's expansion.”

“This will mark my first absence from the T20 World Cup, and it's an adjustment to watch from home,” Rohit Sharma added.

Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India’s T20 team, characterized the event as a challenge and expressed enthusiasm for competing on home soil.