The early stages of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup are in full swing, featuring a diverse array of teams from across the globe. With matches spread across India and Sri Lanka, the tournament has already witnessed close contests and unexpected results, setting a compelling tone for the subsequent phases. The competition's progression involves a group stage followed by a Super 8 round, culminating in semi-finals and a final.
Tournament Structure and Groups
The 2026 Men's T20 World Cup involves twenty teams, divided into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group advance to the Super 8 stage, where they will be re-grouped into two sets of four. This format ensures a comprehensive group stage before the tournament progresses to its more intense knockout phases.
The initial group allocations are as follows:
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Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, Italy
Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
The tournament commenced on February 7, 2026, with matches scheduled to conclude with the final on March 8, 2026. All start times are listed in GMT, though local times and adjustments may apply.
Key Fixtures and Results from Early Stages
The opening matches have already produced notable results and highlight significant clashes:
February 7, 2026: The tournament kicked off with multiple matches, including Netherlands vs. Pakistan and West Indies vs. Scotland.
South Africa's Close Call: In Group D, South Africa was involved in a tie against Afghanistan, ultimately securing victory in a second Super Over. This result underscores the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.
Italy's Historic Win: Italy achieved a significant milestone by recording their first-ever T20 World Cup victory against Nepal, marking a notable achievement for the debutant nation.
Co-Hosts' Dominance: Hosts India and Sri Lanka have shown strong performances. India posted a score of 209/9 against their opponents, while Sri Lanka recorded the highest total of the tournament thus far with 225/5 against Oman, which is also the fourth highest in Men's T20 World Cup history.
Match Schedule Overview
The group stage features a rigorous schedule with multiple matches per day, hosted across various venues in India and Sri Lanka. Key match-ups include:
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| Date | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | Netherlands vs. Pakistan | A | SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo |
| Feb 7 | West Indies vs. Scotland | C | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Feb 7 | India vs. USA | A | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Feb 8 | Afghanistan vs. New Zealand | D | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Feb 8 | England vs. Nepal | C | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Feb 8 | Sri Lanka vs. Ireland | B | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Feb 15 | India vs. Pakistan | A | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Mar 4 | Semi-final 1 | Kolkata or Colombo | |
| Mar 5 | Semi-final 2 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | |
| Mar 8 | Final | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
Note: Fixtures and start times are subject to change. The provided times are GMT.
Venues for the Tournament
The tournament is being held across multiple iconic cricket stadiums in both host nations:
India:
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sri Lanka:
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Notable Incidents and Player News
While the focus is on the matches, off-field news also impacts the tournament:
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Player Absences: Reports indicate that Brendan Taylor and George Dockrell have been ruled out of the World Cup due to hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
Team Selections: Ireland has had to replace their captain in the T20 World Cup squad due to an injury.
Player Sanctions: An Afghanistan all-rounder has reportedly been sanctioned for an incident involving South Africa.
The tournament's progression promises further compelling matches and potential shifts in the competitive landscape.
Sources Used
BBC Sport: Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Fixtures, results and scorecards
Cricbuzz: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 schedule, live scores and results
ESPN.com: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Fixtures and Results
ESPN Cricinfo: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule & Results
Firstpost: T20 World Cup 2026: Full list of matches and results after India defeat Namibia
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