Rohit Sharma Named Ambassador as 20-Team Tournament Returns to India-Sri Lanka

MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka for the second time. The tournament, featuring 20 teams split into four groups of five, is set to begin on February 7.

The highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. In a notable arrangement, Pakistan will play all their league matches in Sri Lanka. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA.

The ICC also announced the appointment of Rohit Sharma—the T20 World Cup-winning captain—as the Brand Ambassador for the 2026 tournament. Sharma, who led India to the 2024 title, will be the face of the mega event on the subcontinent.

The T20 World Cup 2026 will follow the format introduced in the 2024 edition, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super Eight stage. The joint hosting underscores the subcontinent’s position as a major center for global cricket events.