India and Pakistan set to be in same group as ICC set to announce scehedule for T20 World Cup 2026
T20 World Cup 2026 groups revealed: India receive a favourable draw while co-hosts Sri Lanka face a tough group. Full group breakdown and key battles ahead.
The excitement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has soared as the group stage lineup is officially confirmed. Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka find themselves in contrasting scenarios, with India receiving a comparatively straightforward group while Sri Lanka are placed in a much tougher challenge early on.
This edition will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the Super Eight stage.
T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
| Group | Teams | Key Talking Point |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA | India–Pakistan rivalry, favourites to progress |
| Group B | Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman | Tough draw for SL with three Test nations |
| Group C | England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy | Former champions paired, tricky group |
| Group D | South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, Canada | Three top contenders, high competition |
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High Stakes and Heavyweights Across All Four Groups
India, currently one of the strongest T20I units in world cricket, headline Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan. Associate sides Namibia, Netherlands and the USA have shown rapid improvement in recent tournaments, but India and Pakistan will still back themselves to advance. Their blockbuster meeting is expected to be one of the most-watched games of the tournament.
Sri Lanka, co-hosts and former champions, must battle through a challenging Group B. Australia enter as favourites, while Ireland and Zimbabwe have the reputation of creating major upsets on the world stage. Oman’s steady rise adds even more unpredictability.
Groups C and D carry their own elements of suspense. England and West Indies, both World Cup-winning teams, share Group C with Bangladesh, making it competitive from top to bottom. Group D appears equally fierce with South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan all capable of deep runs in the tournament, while UAE and Canada hope to challenge whenever opportunities arise.
With matches scheduled across major venues in India and Sri Lanka, and the final set for Ahmedabad, unless Pakistan qualify, prompting a shift to Colombo, the stage is set for a thrilling cricket festival. The journey to global T20 glory begins soon, and every group promises battles worth watching.
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