Will India Play Any Warm-Up Match Before the T20 World Cup 2026?

India are expected to play at least one warm-up match before beginning the defence of their T20 World Cup title, with South Africa likely to be their opponents ahead of the global tournament starting on February

7 in Mumbai as per a report by Cricbuzz.

After completing the ongoing white-ball series against New Zealand, which concludes with the fifth T20I on January 31 in Thiruvananthapuram, the Indian squad will briefly disperse before regrouping in Mumbai. The players are scheduled to travel from Kerala on February 1 and reassemble on February 3 to begin preparations for the marquee event.

As per current plans, India's practice match is likely to be held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 4. The fixture is expected to serve as India's only warm-up game before their opening World Cup clash, scheduled for February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to officially confirm the warm-up schedule, indications suggest that the contest against South Africa is almost finalised, barring any last-minute changes.

The delay in the announcement of warm-up fixtures stems from recent uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh's participation in the tournament. With Scotland stepping in as their replacement, the ICC is now expected to release the complete warm-up schedule soon. Officials from both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have acknowledged discussions over the fixture but have refrained from making an official statement until the ICC's confirmation.

India will compete in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026 alongside Pakistan, the Netherlands, the United States and Namibia. South Africa, who finished as runners-up in the previous edition, have been placed in Group D with Canada, Afghanistan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The Proteas are set to begin their campaign against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 9.

With the tournament fast approaching, the potential warm-up match against South Africa could play a crucial role in India's preparations. It will provide the team management an opportunity to test combinations, assess player fitness and fine-tune strategies before the high-stakes opener. If confirmed, the fixture promises to offer an early glimpse of the intensity expected in the battle for the T20 World Cup crown.