India’s T20 World Cup title defence begins at home in February 2026! The defending champions open their campaign against the USA at Wankhede Stadium. Suryakumar Yadav leads the team into this crucial tournament starting soon.
The India schedule spans four group stage matches across different venues. Three games happen on home soil giving them massive crowd support. One match takes place in Colombo, Sri Lanka during the group stage.
All India’s T20 World Cup matches start at 7:00 PM IST sharp. Star Sports channels broadcast every game live on television across the country. JioHotstar streams matches online for fans who prefer watching digitally.
India Schedule – Group Stage Matches
Defending champions kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7. The USA arrives at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the opening clash. The match table gives the home team perfect preparation time after the New Zealand series.
February 12 brings Namibia to Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for match two. The home team should be warmed up nicely by then. Home advantage across these venues helps the defending champions significantly.
February 15 marks the biggest date on the schedule without doubt. Pakistan comes to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the high-stakes rivalry match. This game generates massive viewership numbers worldwide, regardless of circumstances.
The schedule wraps up the group stage on February 18 in Ahmedabad. The Netherlands faces the hosts at Narendra Modi Stadium that evening. Winning all four matches would guarantee Super 8 qualification easily.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 2026 | India vs USA | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:00 PM |
| 12 Feb 2026 | India vs Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
| 15 Feb 2026 | India vs Pakistan | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 7:00 PM |
| 18 Feb 2026 | India vs Netherlands | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:00 PM |
Squad Ready for Title Defence in 2026
Suryakumar Yadav captains the team through the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament. The team brings a settled core group that’s played together regularly. Strong batting depth combines with quality bowling options across the squad.
Playing three matches at home venues gives India obvious advantages this time. Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad crowds will create electric atmospheres for sure. The match table planned these home games strategically before travelling to Colombo.
Qualification Path Forward
Super 8 stage begins on February 21 across both host nations. Defending champions need strong early momentum to progress smoothly through the schedule. Recent ICC tournament results have been mixed for the team admittedly.
Getting off to a winning start becomes crucial for confidence-building early. The 2026 schedule allows potential squad rotation after securing qualification hopefully. Every player needs match time before the knockout stages arrive later.
The bowling attack looks balanced for different pitch conditions in the match table. Home venues favour their spinners while Colombo offers different challenges entirely. Defending the T20 World Cup 2026 title requires adapting quickly to all conditions!
