ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is well and truly alive—and it has already delivered drama, shocks, and moments that cricket fans will talk about for years.
Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026, this landmark tournament brings together 20 nations, 55 matches, and one gleaming trophy.
Whether you are tracking the Super Eight points table, checking the schedule, or simply trying to understand which teams have qualified for the knockout rounds, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Tournament Overview: A Landmark Edition
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup holds special significance as the tenth edition of the competition. India, the defending champions after their 2024 triumph, are co-hosting the event alongside Sri Lanka—bringing the tournament back to two nations that have a deep, passionate relationship with the sport.
Five venues across India—Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai—along with three venues in Sri Lanka (R. Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo and Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy) are hosting the 55 matches.
The format is straightforward: 20 teams were divided into four groups of five in the opening stage, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight, followed by two semi-finals and a final.
All 20 Qualified Teams: How They Made It
The 20 participating nations reached the tournament through three distinct pathways.
Direct Qualifiers (Hosts): India and Sri Lanka earned automatic berths as co-hosts.
Direct Qualifiers (2024 Performance + Rankings): Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa, the United States, and West Indies qualified based on their Super Eight appearances in the 2024 edition.
Ireland, New Zealand, and Pakistan secured spots through their ICC Men’s T20I rankings as of 30 June 2024. Scotland replaced Bangladesh after the Bangladesh Cricket Board declined to play matches in India.
Regional Qualifiers: Eight associate nations earned their places through regional tournaments—Canada (Americas), Italy and the Netherlands (Europe), Namibia and Zimbabwe (Africa), and Nepal, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates from the combined Asia and East Asia-Pacific qualifier. Italy made history by qualifying for the Men’s T20 World Cup for the very first time.
Group Stage Results: Who Made the Super Eight?
The group stage produced one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history—Australia, two-time champions and perpetual contenders, were eliminated before the Super Eight. Zimbabwe’s extraordinary campaign in Group B sent the Australians home early, sending shockwaves across the cricket world.
The eight nations that emerged from the group stage are:
Group A: India and Pakistan, Group B: Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, Group C: West Indies and England, Group D: D: D: South Africa and New Zealand
The West Indies were the first team confirmed in the Super Eight, with India following closely after their memorable 61-run victory over Pakistan—India’s sixteenth consecutive win in ICC limited-overs tournaments, an extraordinary streak by any measure. Pakistan clinched the last Super Eight spot with a win over Namibia.
Among the twelve teams eliminated, Nepal, Oman, the Netherlands, USA, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE, and Namibia all exit at the group stage.
Super Eight: Groups, Format, and Key Rules
The eight Super Eight teams are divided into two groups of four. Crucially, no points or net run rates are carried over from the group stage—every team begins the Super Eight with a clean slate.
Each team plays the other three sides in their group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. A win earns two points; a tied match results in a Super Over. Rain-affected matches that complete at least five overs per side earn each team one point if abandoned.
Super Eight Group 1 (India-hosted matches): India | South Africa | West Indies | Zimbabwe
Super Eight Group 2 (Sri Lanka-hosted matches): England | New Zealand | Pakistan | Sri Lanka
It is worth noting that Zimbabwe occupies the spot originally reserved for Australia as a seeded team. Since they knocked Australia out in the group stage, they stepped into that pre-assigned Super Eight position—a remarkable story for a nation that has been on the fringes of global cricket for much of the past decade.
Super Eight Full Schedule
Saturday, 21 February: Pakistan vs New Zealand—R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7:00 PM IST)
Sunday, 22 February: Sri Lanka vs. England—Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy (3:00 PM IST) India vs South Africa—Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (7:00 PM IST)
Monday, 23 February: Zimbabwe vs West Indies—Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (7:00 PM IST)
Tuesday, 24 February: England vs. Pakistan—Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy (7:00 PM IST)
Wednesday, 25 February: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka—R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7:00 PM IST)
Thursday, 26 February: West Indies vs South Africa—Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (3:00 PM IST) India vs. Zimbabwe—MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (7:00 PM IST)
Friday, 27 February: England vs New Zealand—R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7:00 PM IST)
Saturday, 28 February: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan—Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy (7:00 PM IST)
Sunday, 1 March: Zimbabwe vs South Africa—Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi (3:00 PM IST) India vs West Indies—Eden Gardens, Kolkata (7:00 PM IST)
Super Eight Points Table
As of 20 February 2026, the Super Eight stage is yet to begin. All teams currently sit at zero points with matches starting on 21 February. The table below will update as results come in.
Group 1
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| India | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| West Indies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Group 2
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Semi-Finals and Final: Dates to Mark
The two semi-finals are scheduled for 4 and 5 March 2026, with the grand final set for 8 March 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad—the world’s largest cricket stadium, making it a fitting venue for a tournament decider of this magnitude.
Tournament Storylines to Watch
The group stage has already handed us plenty to discuss. India’s Sahibzada Farhan-powered Pakistan found their rhythm late. Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka has been among the tournament’s top run-scorers. Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani leads all bowlers at the tournament—his nine wickets have single-handedly altered the shape of Group B.
On the women’s side, the next ICC Women’s T20 World Cup follows later in 2026, but for now all eyes are fixed squarely on the men’s Super Eight and the road to Ahmedabad.
With defending champions India, a resurgent Pakistan, a dangerous England side, and the ever-unpredictable West Indies all still in the hunt, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions the sport has ever seen.
Also Read: Zimbabwe Makes History, Australia Crash Out as Super Eights Picture Sharpens at T20 World Cup 2026