India–Sri Lanka to Host ICC T20 World Cup 2026 From February

The tentative schedule for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has been revealed, and cricket fans across the world are already excited. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and is planned to take place from February 7 to March 8. This edition will once again feature 20 teams, just like the previous year, and Team India will enter the event as the defending champions. The long tournament window and multiple venues are expected to bring high energy and strong competition throughout the month.

A total of nine teams have already qualified directly for the tournament. This includes the top seven teams from the last edition—Australia, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Along with them, the two host nations, India and Sri Lanka, also received automatic entry. Based on ICC rankings, Ireland, New Zealand, and Pakistan secured guaranteed spots as well. These teams will form the main group of qualified sides even before the regional rounds began.

The remaining places were filled through regional qualifying events. Italy and the Netherlands earned their places from the Europe region, showing great improvement in their T20 cricket standards. Canada made it through the Americas path, continuing their strong rise in the shorter format. Namibia and Zimbabwe secured the African slots, maintaining their regional dominance. The joint Asia and East Asia-Pacific qualifiers awarded the final three places to Oman, Nepal, and UAE. These teams have shown consistent growth and will be eager to make an impact on the world stage.

According to reports from RevSportz, India is expected to begin their World Cup campaign against the USA. But the most anticipated match of the tournament will be the India vs Pakistan clash, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This match always draws huge attention because of the long-standing cricket rivalry, emotional fan support, and the political history that surrounds both nations. Such matches often become the highlight of global cricket tournaments.

Venue details are also becoming clearer. One of the semi-finals is likely to be held in Mumbai, while the final could take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium. Another important update is that Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo. This decision aligns with the current ICC hosting cycle, where India and Pakistan only meet in multi-nation tournaments at neutral or designated venues.

Colombo might also host one of the semi-final matches, but only if Pakistan or Sri Lanka qualify for the last four. If Pakistan reach the final, then the title match will be shifted to Sri Lanka according to the reported plans.

The last time India hosted an ICC men’s event was the ODI World Cup, which was played across nine major cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Dharamsala. The upcoming T20 World Cup is expected to follow a similar large-scale hosting model, offering fans a memorable cricket experience.

The official schedule is expected to be released soon, but excitement is already high. With strong teams, iconic venues, and big matches, the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 promises to be one of the most thrilling cricket events in recent years.