The Indian men’s cricket team is all set to step into the T20 World Cup 2026 as the defending champions, playing at home and brimming with confidence. The title defence begins on the opening day, February 7, with a clash against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-octane campaign.

Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the USA and the Netherlands, India will battle it out for a place in the Super Eights. It’s a competitive group, but one that the Men in Blue will back themselves to dominate, given their current form and depth.

Speaking of form, it doesn’t get better than this. The two-time champions arrive at the World Cup in red-hot touch, having won nine out of nine bilateral T20I series in the lead-up to the marquee event. Momentum is firmly on their side and confidence is sky-high within the camp.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, this Indian side enters the competition as favourites, with history firmly within reach. India could become the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title, the first to lift the trophy at home and also the first nation to win a record three T20 World Cups.

On the field, the firepower is evident. The top order, spearheaded by No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma, is firing on all cylinders. The middle order provides stability and finishing flair, with Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh, among others, shouldering the responsibility.

With the ball, India boasts one of the most feared attacks in the tournament, led by No. 1 T20I bowler Varun Chakaravarthy and the 2024 edition Player of the Series Jasprit Bumrah.

On behalf of the Lucknow Super Giants family, we wish Team India all the very best!

T20 World Cup 2026 - Team India schedule

Date

Opponent

Venue

Time (IST)

February 7

USA

Mumbai

7:00 PM

February 12

Namibia

Delhi

7:00 PM

February 15

Pakistan

Colombo

7:00 PM

February 18

Netherlands

Ahmedabad

7:00 PM

February 21 - March 1

Super Eights (Subject to qualification)

March 4 - March 5

Semi-Finals (Subject to qualification)

March 8

Final (Subject to qualification)

T20 World Cup 2026 - Team India squad

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.