The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to return with renewed intensity as India and Sri Lanka co-host the global showpiece, bringing together 20 teams in the shortest and most explosive format of the game.
Scheduled from February 7 to March 8, the tournament will be played across eight venues. India will host matches in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai, while Sri Lanka’s fixtures will be staged in Colombo and Kandy, along with one additional venue. With a tight schedule and little margin for error, consistency will be crucial from the opening week.
Group A gets the tournament underway, featuring defending champions India, former winners Pakistan, and three competitive associate sides in the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. With only two teams progressing to the next stage, the group promises closely fought contests and early pressure on all sides.
India
Defending champions and co-hosts, India enter the World Cup as the number one-ranked side in both T20Is and ODIs. After lifting the trophy in 2024, they are aiming to achieve an unprecedented feat by retaining the title.
India’s squad reflects a clear transition following the retirement of senior figures after the last World Cup. Abhishek Sharma has emerged as the face of the new era, scoring 1,267 runs in just 37 T20Is, including two centuries. His strike rate of 194.92 is the highest in the format, underlining his ability to dominate bowling attacks from the outset.
With Shubman Gill missing out on selection, the opening combination is expected to feature Sharma and Sanju Samson, while Ishan Kishan remains in contention for the wicketkeeper’s role. The bowling attack continues to be led by Jasprit Bumrah, whose control and temperament remain invaluable, while Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin provides a key middle-overs option.
With three of their four group matches scheduled at home, India will be keen to maximise familiar conditions and strong crowd support.
Pakistan
Pakistan arrive at the World Cup determined to put a disappointing previous campaign behind them. The 2009 champions failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2024, suffering defeats to India and debutants the USA, after having reached the final and semi-finals in the two editions before that.
Now coached by Mike Hesson, Pakistan sit sixth in the T20I rankings and will be captained by Salman Ali Agha. The return of Babar Azam, following his omission from the Asia Cup squad, has brought renewed focus to the batting line-up. Pakistan finished runners-up to India in that tournament and will hope to carry that momentum into the World Cup.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah, still the youngest member of the squad despite four years in T20 internationals, will be eager to rediscover the form that once made him one of the most feared bowlers in the format.
Netherlands
The Netherlands continue to be one of the most dangerous associate sides in world cricket. Making their seventh appearance at the Men’s T20 World Cup, they have reached the second round twice, most recently in 2022.
That campaign saw Bas de Leede finish joint second among wicket-takers with 13 scalps, while Max O’Dowd scored 242 runs to finish just behind Virat Kohli in the run charts. Both players return for the 2026 edition, with Scott Edwards once again leading the side.
Experience within the squad is further strengthened by Roelof van der Merwe, one of six players aged over 40 in the tournament. The seasoned left-arm spinner has been playing international cricket since 2009 and played a decisive role in the Netherlands’ memorable win over South Africa at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Namibia
Namibia make their fourth consecutive appearance at the Men’s T20 World Cup, underlining their growing consistency at the global level. Their best showing came in 2021, when they reached the Super 12 stage on debut and defeated the Netherlands, a rival they will face again in Group A.
In the previous edition, Namibia opened their campaign with a dramatic super over victory against Oman, with Ruben Trumpelmann claiming four wickets. The left-arm pacer remains a key figure in their bowling unit.
Craig Williams, a long-serving figure in Namibian cricket, returns to the World Cup in a new role as head coach. While the side is also preparing to co-host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027, the immediate focus will be on improving their record against higher-ranked opposition.
USA
The USA enter the tournament looking to prove that their breakthrough performance in 2024 was no anomaly. Playing on home soil, they stunned the cricketing world by defeating Pakistan in a super over and advancing to the Super Eight stage.
Since then, the side has continued to build momentum, winning the North America T20 Cup final against Canada and completing a 3–0 series sweep against Oman last February. Monank Patel remains captain and a key figure at the top of the order.
Saiteja Mukkamalla is the USA’s highest-ranked batter, placed 25th in the world, ahead of several established international names. At just 21, he already has international hundreds in both white-ball formats and averages 42.60 in T20s, making him a central figure in the USA’s Group A ambitions.
