2026 T20 World Cup Scheduled for February-March, India and Sri Lanka to Co-Host

According to reports, the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host, is anticipated to occur from February 7 to March 8. The tournament will feature a total of 20 teams competing across five venues, with three locations in India and two in Sri Lanka. The final match is contingent on whether Pakistan qualifies, meaning it could take place either in Ahmedabad or Colombo. In light of the current political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have led to a ban on matches hosted in each other's countries, both nations opted for this policy after India's withdrawal from the Champions Trophy.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently in the process of finalizing the schedule but has already alerted participating nations of the tentative dates. The competitive format will mirror that of the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and the West Indies, comprising 55 matches overall. The participating teams will be split into four groups of five, with the aim of qualifying for the Super Eight round. From there, the top teams will advance to the semi-finals.

So far, 15 teams have secured their spots in the world event, including cricketing nations like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, with Italy making its first-ever World Cup appearance. The tournament will see further teams emerge from qualifiers in the Africa and Asia regions. Additionally, India is set to host other significant tournaments, including the Women's Premier League and the Indian Premier League, with the latter scheduled from March 15 to May 31.