ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
2026 · 10 teams · T20 cricket
Tournament Overview
Series Overview
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026, featuring 20 teams across 55 matches in a format that began with four groups of five, followed by a Super 8 stage and then semi-finals and the final. India, the defending champions from 2024, produced a tournament of comprehensive excellence to reach the final for the second consecutive time. The four semi-finalists were India, New Zealand, England, and South Africa. India defeated England in the second semi-final and then faced New Zealand in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. India's batting lineup was breathtaking — posting 255/5, the highest score ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final. Sanju Samson, who had been India's most consistent batter across the tournament with 321 runs at a strike rate of almost 200, anchored the innings with 89 in the decider. New Zealand, chasing 256, were bowled out for 159 — Jasprit Bumrah taking 4 wickets in an electric spell. India's margin of 96 runs was also the largest winning margin in a T20 World Cup final. By becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title, India cemented their position as the dominant force in the shortest international format. Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan was an outstanding individual performer across the tournament despite Pakistan's semi-final exit.
Key Highlights
- 1India became the first team to defend the ICC T20 World Cup title — winning back-to-back in 2024 and 2026
- 2India posted 255/5 in the final — the highest team total in T20 World Cup final history — and bowled NZ out for 159
- 3Sanju Samson was Player of the Tournament with 321 runs at 80.25 average and a strike rate of 199.37
- 4Jasprit Bumrah's 4/28 in the final was the match-defining bowling performance on the night
- 5Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) set a new record for most runs in a single T20 WC edition with 383 runs across the tournament