Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will renew their rivalry during the 2026 T20 World Cup. They will collide at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 next year in a group-stage encounter.
It was speculated that India would avoid playing Pakistan in the same group due to the ongoing tensions between the two countries in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. However, according to a report from Sporstar, the arch-rivals have been placed in the same group, along with the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands.
If sources are to be believed, the defending champions are set to start their campaign against the USA at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 8, followed by a game against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on February 12. Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will then head to Colombo to face Pakistan. India’s final league game will be against Namibia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 18.
If India qualifies for the semifinals, it will be hosted at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while the first semifinal will take place in Colombo on March 4.
The summit clash of the 20-team competition will be held in Ahmedabad on March 8.
T20 World Cup 2026 will be the 10th edition of the event, which started back in 2007. India emerged victorious in the previous edition in 2024 in the Caribbean. Under Rohit Sharma‘s leadership, the Asian giants defeated South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
India have been in stunning form in T20 cricket of late. They won the Asia Cup in September, defeating Pakistan thrice, including the five-wicket victory in the final in Dubai. Suryakumar’s men defeated Australia 2-1 in a five-match T20I series Down Under last month. Their upcoming T20I assignment is against South Africa in December, where they will play five T20Is at home.
On the other hand, Pakistan are currently involved in a T20I tri-series at home, with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe being the two other teams.
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