Mumbai, Nov 25 (UNI) India and Pakistan will face off in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST in Colombo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday.
The announcement of the full tournament schedule has set the stage for what promises to be one of the most-watched clashes in cricket history.
Legendary India cricketer Rohit Sharma, the winning captain of the 2024 T20 World Cup, has been named brand ambassador of the 2026 edition.
Speaking at the unveiling, Rohit said, “It’s a huge honour to be an ambassador for the event. I hope we can create magic on the field, just as we did last year.”
He, a two-time T20 World Cup winner, had announced his retirement from T20 cricket following India’s 2024 triumph.
The tournament will kick off on February 7, with India taking on the USA in Mumbai. The final is scheduled for March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, although the final will be held in Colombo if Pakistan reaches it.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah led the gala event in Mumbai, which was attended by Rohit, India’s current T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Women’s World Cup 2025-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
India has been drawn in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia. Group B features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman. Group C consists of England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Italy, marking Italy’s historic debut in the T20 World Cup.
Group D includes South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, and the UAE.
The return of the T20 World Cup to India comes after a decade, the last edition hosted in the country being in 2016, when India suffered a semi-final defeat to the West Indies. The announcement highlights India’s growing role as a central hub for global cricket events.
Speaking at the event, Suryakumar Yadav said, “It’s challenging going into the World Cup, but I am thrilled to captain the team.”
Harmanpreet Kaur added, “Winning the Women’s World Cup was special, and we aim to make the next T20 World Cup a memorable event for fans everywhere.”
India’s Group A fixtures are as follows:
Feb 7: India vs USA (Mumbai)
Feb 12: India vs Namibia (Delhi)
Feb 15: India vs Pakistan (Colombo)
Feb 18: India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad)
The ICC also emphasized the growing global reach of cricket, with Italy making its debut at the T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament is expected to feature a combination of historic rivalries, emerging cricket nations, and star players, promising fans an action-packed and unforgettable event.
