T20 World Cup 2026 group stage revealed: India and Pakistan set for Colombo showdown on February 15

The stage is set for one of the most eagerly awaited tournaments in international cricket, with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 group stage confirmed to feature 40 matches played between February 7 and 20 across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka.

How the group stage works

Twenty teams have been divided into four groups of five, with each side playing four group matches. Points earned during this phase will determine the standings, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super Eights, which begins on February 21.

The four groups

Group A: India, USA, Pakistan, Netherlands and Namibia.

Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman.

Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy and Nepal.

Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada and UAE.

The draw throws up a mouth-watering opener for Group A, with the much-anticipated India–Pakistan clash scheduled for February 15 in Colombo — a fixture that historically ranks among the most-watched sporting events in the world.

Road to the final

Once the Super Eights conclude, the top four teams on the points table will move into the knockout rounds. The semi-finals will be held in Kolkata or Colombo and Mumbai, before the tournament culminates with the final on March 8 in Ahmedabad or Colombo.

With co-hosts India and Sri Lanka each staging matches, and established heavyweights Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand spread across the groups, the race to secure a Super Eights berth promises to be fiercely contested from the very first ball on February 7.