India and Pakistan to Clash in Same Group for T20 World Cup 2026
Cricket fans worldwide can mark their calendars: India and Pakistan are set to face off in the same group at the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Despite the recent Asia Cup encounters, where India dominated, the upcoming World Cup promises a fresh and high-stakes contest between the two arch-rivals.
According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized the groups, placing India and Pakistan in a pool that also includes the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA. This grouping appears favorable for India and Pakistan to advance to the Super Eight stage, given their higher rankings and Test-playing nation status compared to the other teams in the group.
India, currently holding the number one spot in the T20I rankings, is slated to begin their World Cup campaign against the USA on February 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Following this, they will face Namibia on February 12 in Delhi, Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo, and the Netherlands on February 18 in Mumbai. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The encounter is expected to draw record-breaking viewership, fueled by the intense sporting rivalry and the political dynamics between the two nations.
While the group composition might seem comfortable for India and Pakistan, upsets are always a possibility in T20 cricket. The USA's shocking victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 serves as a reminder that no team can be taken lightly.
In the other groups, Sri Lanka faces a challenging path alongside Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman. England, the West Indies, and Bangladesh are grouped with Nepal and Italy, while South Africa is pooled with New Zealand, Afghanistan, the UAE, and Canada.
As for the knockout stages, Mumbai is expected to host a semi-final on March 5, with the final match scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8. However, the venues could be adjusted depending on the semi-final qualifications. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, their match would be held in Colombo.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have a standing agreement to hold major games in neutral venues, which is why Colombo was chosen for the India-Pakistan match. Besides venues in Sri Lanka, the Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai will also host tournament matches.
The Asia Cup 2025 saw India defeat Pakistan in all three of their encounters, including a five-wicket victory in the final. Despite India's recent dominance, the T20 World Cup clash will be a clean slate, with both teams eager to assert their dominance on the global stage. The pressure and intensity of a World Cup match will undoubtedly add another layer to this historic rivalry.
