The tenth edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is set to take place across India and Sri Lanka, featuring 20 teams competing in 55 matches. Games will be played at five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka. The group stage will consist of 40 matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super 8 stage.
In the Super 8s, teams will be divided into two groups of four, playing round-robin matches. Points from the group stage will not carry over, and eight teams have been pre-seeded based on T20I rankings: Australia, India, South Africa, and the West Indies in Group 1, and England, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in Group 2.
The knockout stage includes semi-finals on 4 and 5 March, with the final on 8 March. Key venues include Eden
Gardens (Kolkata), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), and Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), with contingency plans for R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo) if Pakistan is involved.
Alongside the seasoned players, the 2026 edition will feature some exciting young talents. The five youngest players in the tournament are:
Gulshan Jha (Nepal) (19 years): He will be turning 20 at the start of the tournament. He is regarded as one of Nepal's most promising young cricketers, known for his all‑round skills - aggressive left‑handed batting and useful right‑arm medium‑fast bowling. His early success at international level and historic performances have made him a rising star in Nepalese cricket.
Zainullah Ihsan (Scotland) (19): He is of Afghan origin, known for his right‑arm medium bowling and emerging potential. He grabbed the headlines by being selected for Scotland's T20 World Cup squad - his maiden senior national call‑up - as he continues his journey from youth and club cricket into the senior international scene.
Allah Ghazanfar (Afghanistan) (19 years): Allah Ghazanfar gained attention with strong performances in the U‑19 World Cup 2024 and made his ODI debut in March 2024 against Ireland. Ghazanfar has also played in the IPL, being part of KKR's 2024 title-winning squad and later Mumbai Indians' 2025 squad. He made a huge mark, while playing for MI Emirates in the ILT20. Known for his control and wicket-taking ability, he is considered a rising talent in Afghan cricket across formats.
Yuvraj Samra (Canada) (19 years): A left-handed top-order batter, he made his ODI debut in March 2025 against the Netherlands and T20I debut the same year against Namibia. Known for his aggressive batting, Samra has scored multiple T20I half-centuries, including a fastest fifty for Canada off 15 balls in the 2025 ICC T20 Americas Qualifier. He is part of Canada's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, emerging as one of their most promising young talents.
Kwena Maphaka (South Africa) (19 years): The 19‑year‑old South African left‑arm fast bowler who has rapidly transitioned from standout youth prospect to senior international cricketer. He holds records as one of South Africa's youngest players ever across formats and is widely regarded as a key part of the future of South African pace bowling and has even made his mark in the IPL as well as the SA20.
These youngsters bring energy and promise, ready to take on some of the best T20 teams in the world. The tournament offers a platform for them to make an impact and potentially shape the future of international cricket. With the blend of established stars and emerging talent, the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to deliver thrilling cricket and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.
