India’s quest for cricketing history begins this week as the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gets underway on Feb 7, with the defending champions aiming for back-to-back titles on home soil – a feat no host nation has achieved in the tournament’s 17-year history.
Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, this 10th edition of the tournament features 20 teams split into four groups of five. The opening match in Mumbai pits India against the United States, while Sri Lanka begins its campaign against Ireland in Colombo on Feb 8.
India, placed in Group A with the US, Namibia, the Netherlands and arch-rival Pakistan, enters the competition on a strong run of form, having won every T20I series over the past two years – including away series wins over Australia and South Africa, and an Asia Cup triumph in the United Arab Emirates.
This will be India’s first major tournament since the retirement of legends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20 format after lifting the 2024 title in Barbados. The team is now led by Suryakumar Yadav, with rising stars like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Harshit Rana filling the void with flair and fearlessness.
Abhishek, the No. 1-ranked T20 batter, has become a fan favourite and will be key to India’s fortunes. “He’s a star... potentially the player of the tournament,” said former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on the ICC Review podcast. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, currently the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, adds firepower on spin-friendly pitches, supported by pace aces Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, both vital to India’s 2024 final win.
Despite the cricketing buzz, the tournament has been overshadowed by off-field controversies. Pakistan’s government has refused to allow its team to face India in their scheduled Feb 15 clash in Colombo, citing the ICC’s dismissal of Bangladesh’s venue-change requests. As a result, Pakistan risks a forfeit, handing India a walkover and potentially easing their path to the Super Eight stage.
Bangladesh, citing security concerns, withdrew entirely. Scotland has taken their place in the lineup.
To mitigate further disruption, the ICC has designated Colombo as a standby venue for the final, should Pakistan reach the title match currently scheduled for Ahmedabad on March 8.
The World Cricketers Association has also raised objections over player image and participation rights, adding to the fraught prelude to the event.
Sri Lanka, co-hosting the event, will play its matches in Colombo and Kandy. Though inconsistent in recent years, the 2014 champions hope for a revival under familiar conditions. Key to their campaign will be spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and power hitter Pathum Nissanka.
Led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, India remains the team to beat – with momentum, home support and a squad hungry to rewrite the record books.
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22 Jan 2026 18:38
