T20 World Cup 2026: India grouped alongside Pakistan, associate nations

India and Sri Lanka have been placed alongside contrasting teams in terms of theoretical difficulty as far as the T20 World Cup 2026. The two will co-host the tournament from February 7 to March 8 next year.

India, currently the top-ranked T20I side as per ICC Rankings and Pakistan, who are seventh, are the only Test-playing members in the groupings for the 20-team event. The high-voltage showdown is scheduled to take place on February 15. Irrespective of how the match pans out, it will be expected that both the sides qualify for the Super 8s. Three other sides in the group comprise the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA.

On the other hand, South Africa, the runners-up from 2024, have been grouped with New Zealand or Afghanistan. While Afghanistan may be placed at 10th position as of now, they have been a force to reckon with in the shortest format for some time now. The other teams in South Africa's group are the UAE and Canada.

Coming to the co-hosts, Sri Lanka, they are placed No. 8 in the T20I rankings at the moment, and have been clustered along with Australia, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, and Oman as the third group for the 20-over spectacle at home.

Former T20 World Cup champions England and West Indies have been drawn with Bangladesh. Nepal are the fourth team with them. Newcomers Italy, ranked 28th, will be playing their maiden T20 World Cup at the 2026 edition, will be facing these teams too. South Africa and this particular group could be one to watch out for.

India will kickstart their tournament with a clash against the USA. They will then take on Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. The India-Pakistan contest will be played in Colombo. Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad will be the cities which will host the matches in India whereas Colombo and Kandy will be the two host cities from the island nation.

Unless Pakistan make it to the summit clash, Ahmedabad is slated to host the final. Depending on the teams which qualify for the semis, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Colombo have been selected as the venues. The International Cricket Council, as per Cricbuzz, is set to disclose the draw in Mumbai on November 25.