Dubai: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be another cricketing spectacle, with reports suggesting that Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is the frontrunner to host the grand final of the tournament.
The mega event, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled to take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026. According to Indian media reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently held discussions to finalise venues for the global event.
Unlike the 2023 ODI World Cup, which featured matches across a wide range of venues, the BCCI is reportedly opting for a more streamlined schedule this time. Each selected stadium is expected to host a minimum of six matches.
Likely Indian Venues
The proposed list of Indian venues includes Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, while Sri Lanka will host matches across three stadiums that will be confirmed in the coming months.
Meanwhile, venues such as Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Indore, and Navi Mumbai—which recently hosted games during the ICC Women’s World Cup—are unlikely to be included in the T20 World Cup 2026 lineup.
Hybrid Model for India and Pakistan Matches
A notable aspect of this edition is the hybrid hosting model agreed upon between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Under this arrangement, India and Pakistan will play their matches on neutral grounds.
In line with this model, if Sri Lanka qualifies for the semi-finals, the match will be played in Colombo. However, if Pakistan reaches the final, the championship match will be shifted to a neutral venue.
Tournament Format
The 2026 T20 World Cup will follow the same 20-team format as the previous edition. Teams will be divided into four groups of five, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the Super Eight stage, followed by semi-finals and the final.
As excitement builds, fans around the world eagerly await the official announcement of the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule, expected in the coming weeks.
