The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 ran from 7 February to 8 March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, with 20 teams. India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad and became the first side to defend the title. This page sums up the schedule, the groups and the results, and what Bangladesh's absence meant.
Schedule and venues
- Warm-up matches: 2–6 February 2026
- Group stage: 7–20 February 2026
- Super 8s, semi-finals and final: from late February to 8 March 2026
- Final: 8 March 2026, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Matches were played at eight venues: Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai in India, and the R. Premadasa Stadium and the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo and Pallekele in Kandy in Sri Lanka.
On the opening day, Pakistan beat the Netherlands by three wickets in Colombo, and India beat the USA by 29 runs in Mumbai. For results and standings in later editions, see our ICC T20 World Cup page.
Teams and groups
The 20 teams were split into four groups of five. Each team played four group games, and the top two in each group went through to the Super 8s.
- Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Nepal, Italy, Scotland
- Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Why Bangladesh did not play
Bangladesh qualified but did not take part. After the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to play its matches in India, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, the next highest-ranked T20I team, which went into Group C.
The final: India beat New Zealand
India batted first in Ahmedabad and made 255 for 5 in their 20 overs. New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, so India won by 96 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was player of the match. It was India's third T20 World Cup title, after 2007 and 2024, and the first time a host nation won the tournament.
The 2024 edition
The previous T20 World Cup, in 2024, was co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA and was the first with 20 teams. India won it by beating South Africa in the final.
What to check before a T20 bet
For future tournaments, the factors that move T20 prices are the same: team form in warm-ups and early games, pitch conditions (many grounds in India and Sri Lanka help batting or spin), squad rotation, the toss, weather and head-to-head records. Must-win games late in a tournament often play differently from early group games.
Online betting is banned in Bangladesh under the Gambling Prevention Act 2026. Read our Bangladesh page and our page on responsible gambling before you consider any bet.
