The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 schedule is set, the eight qualifiers are confirmed, and world cricket is about to enter its most compelling fortnight of the year. India defend their title. West Indies hunt a third world crown. Zimbabwe arrive as the tournament’s biggest surprise story. And Australia — the 2021 champions — watch from home.
Eight teams. Two groups. Six matches per group. Only four progress to the semi-finals. Every game is effectively a knockout from here. This is where tournaments are truly won and lost.
Here is everything you need to know about the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 schedule, the groups, the fixtures, and who is best placed to reach the final four.
T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: Format and Rules
Before the fixtures, a crucial rule that changes everything: all points and net run rates from the group stage are wiped. Every team starts the Super 8 on zero points. A team that won all three group games begins on the same footing as one that scraped through. This levels the playing field dramatically and makes every Super 8 match feel like a final.
Each team plays the other three sides in their group once — three matches each. The top two from each group advance to the semi-finals. The semi-finals take place on March 4 and March 5, with the final on March 8.
One additional scheduling note worth knowing: if Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, their game moves from Eden Gardens, Kolkata to R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. If Pakistan reach the final, the final moves from Ahmedabad to Colombo as well. The geo-politics of cricket, playing out in venue fine print.
T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Groups
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India -
South Africa
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West Indies -
Zimbabwe
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Pakistan
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England -
New Zealand
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Sri Lanka
Group 1: India, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe | Group 2: Pakistan, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
The seedings were predetermined by ICC T20I rankings before the tournament began. Zimbabwe — having eliminated Australia from Group B — took Australia’s pre-assigned spot in Group 1. It is the group of defending champions, reigning runners-up, two-time former champions, and the tournament’s greatest underdog story. There is no easy game in Group 1.
Group 2, meanwhile, features a blockbuster opening fixture, a resurging Pakistan, an England side yet to hit top gear, an in-form Sri Lanka on home soil, and a New Zealand team who have quietly been one of the tournament’s most consistent sides.
Both groups are ferociously competitive. There are no passengers in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8.
T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Schedule: Full Fixture List
Super 8 Match Schedule
| Date | Match (Group) | Venue & Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 21 |  NZ VS  PAK | Colombo | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 22 |  SL VS  ENG | Kandy | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 22 |  IND VS  SA | Ahmedabad | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 23 |  WI VS  ZIM | Mumbai | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 24 | ENG VS PAK | Kandy | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 25 | NZ VS SL | Colombo | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 26 | WI VS SA | Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 26 | IND VS ZIM | Chennai | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 27 | ENG VS NZ | Colombo | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 28 | PAK VS SL | Kandy | 7:00 PM |
| Mar 01 | ZIM VS SA | Delhi | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 01 | IND VS WI | Kolkata | 7:00 PM |
Group 1 Preview: The Group of Champions
1. India — The Team to Beat
Suryakumar Yadav’s India arrive at the Super 8 as the tournament’s most dominant side. Unbeaten in all three group matches, their most significant win was a 61-run demolition of Pakistan in Colombo — a statement performance that established them as clear tournament favourites. India’s batting depth — Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, and the in-form SKY himself — is formidable, and Jasprit Bumrah’s return to peak form with the ball gives them a match-winner in any conditions.
What makes India particularly dangerous heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 schedule is their consistency across formats. “India’s depth of talent has been evident, as at least one player has stepped up and taken responsibility” in every match — a pattern that speaks to exceptional squad balance rather than reliance on one or two individuals. Their 16-match winning streak in ICC tournaments continues heading into the Super 8.
Key match: India vs South Africa, February 22, Ahmedabad — a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
Verdict: 
Favourites to top Group 1.
2. South Africa — The Unfinished Business
Aiden Markram’s South Africa were Group D’s runaway leaders, winning all four matches including a dramatic Super Over victory over Afghanistan. Their batting order is explosive — Heinrich Klaasen’s power in the middle overs, Quinton de Kock’s aggression at the top, and David Miller’s finishing — and their bowling, led by Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, is well-equipped for the Indian subcontinent’s varied conditions.
South Africa arrive in the Super 8 with unfinished business. They were runners-up in 2024, beaten in a final that went to the last ball. This squad has the quality to go one further — but the draw has placed them directly in India’s group, meaning they must likely beat the defending champions to top Group 1 and choose their semi-final opponent.
Key match: India vs South Africa, February 22, Ahmedabad. Every neutral will be watching.
Verdict: 
Semi-final contenders. Everything depends on the India clash.
3. West Indies — The Dangerous Entertainers
West Indies were arguably the most watchable side of the group stage. Sherfane Rutherford led a batting charge that saw them post 196/6 against England — a performance that sent a message to every Super 8 team. Romario Shepherd claimed 5/20 against Scotland and Jason Holder took 4/27 against Nepal. Their pace attack is relentless and their batting is built for the big occasion.
The last time a men’s T20 World Cup was held in India, West Indies — led by Daren Sammy — defied all expectations to capture the title in 2016. The parallels are not lost on anyone. A third world title for West Indies is very much in play.
The concern is consistency. West Indies can be breathtaking on their day but have historically struggled to replicate that form across six consecutive matches. The Super 8 will test their depth in a way the group stage did not.
Key match: Zimbabwe vs West Indies, February 23, Mumbai — the match West Indies simply cannot afford to lose.
Verdict: 🟡 Genuine contenders. Momentum is everything for this side.
4. Zimbabwe — Cricket's Greatest Current Underdog Story
Two years ago, Zimbabwe didn’t qualify for the T20 World Cup — losing to Uganda in the qualifiers. Today, they are in the Super 8, having eliminated Australia from Group B with a 23-run victory built on Blessing Muzarabani’s brilliance and Sikandar Raza’s indefatigable leadership.
Zimbabwe take Australia’s pre-seeded spot in Group 1, meaning they face India, South Africa, and West Indies — a draw that could not be tougher on paper. But Zimbabwe have already shown they can beat teams ranked far above them. Muzarabani’s pace, Richard Ngarava’s anticipated return from injury, Ryan Burl’s left-arm wrist spin, and Raza’s all-round capability give them genuine match-winning tools.
“We’ll celebrate, but for a short time,” said Raza after qualification. The Super 8 is where the real work begins.
Key match: Zimbabwe vs West Indies, February 23, Mumbai — their most winnable Group 1 fixture.
Verdict: 🟢 Tournament’s wildcard. One big upset is very possible. Semi-final qualification is a stretch but not impossible.
Group 2 Preview: The Battle of the Powerhouses
1. Pakistan — Arriving Late, But Arriving in Form
Pakistan — Salman Agha’s side — were the last team to confirm their Super 8 berth, beating Namibia by 102 runs on February 18. The win was emphatic: Sahibzada Farhan hit an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls — only the second century by a Pakistani batter in men’s T20 World Cup history — and Namibia were dismissed for 97.
But Pakistan’s path to the Super 8 was far from smooth. They were beaten convincingly by India in the group stage and required results to go their way to qualify. There are question marks over their middle-order consistency and their ability to defend totals against top-order batting lineups. However, Pakistan in tournament cricket have repeatedly defied logic, and Group 2 on home-adjacent Sri Lankan pitches will suit them more than the Indian venues did.
Key match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, February 21, Colombo — the opening Super 8 fixture. A statement win here changes the entire conversation around Pakistan’s 2026 campaign.
Verdict: 🟡 Unpredictable but dangerous. Home conditions in Sri Lanka could be the difference.
2. England — Underperforming but Unbeaten
England arrived in this tournament as one of the world’s best T20 sides on paper — and yet their group stage results tell a mixed story. They were beaten convincingly by West Indies (losing by 30 runs when chasing 197) before bouncing back with wins over Scotland and Netherlands. They qualified comfortably but have not yet found the consistency that made them T20 World Champions in 2022.
Jos Buttler’s form with the bat will be critical. Jofra Archer’s pace remains one of the most potent weapons in world cricket when he is fully fit. Adil Rashid’s leg-spin on Sri Lankan surfaces could be the decisive factor in tight matches. England have the talent to win this tournament — they simply have not yet put together three consecutive performances at their best.
Key match: England vs Sri Lanka, February 22, Pallekele — on Sri Lankan soil, in Sri Lankan conditions, against a Sri Lanka side energised by home crowd support. England need a result here.
Verdict: 🟠 Dangerous if they click. Currently below their best but capable of brilliance.
3. New Zealand — The Quietly Consistent Contenders
New Zealand have been one of the most underrated sides of the group stage. Daryl Mitchell’s side won three from four — beating Canada, UAE, and Oman — and qualified from arguably the tournament’s toughest group alongside South Africa. Glenn Phillips has been in scintillating form — his 76 off 36 balls* against Canada was the innings of the group stage alongside Samra’s century — and Rachin Ravindra’s 59* in the same match signals a return to form at exactly the right time.
Their concern remains the bowling attack. Without Mitchell Santner (illness, group stage) and with Lockie Ferguson only just returning from paternity leave, the bowling looks thin beyond the top three. If both are fit for the Super 8, New Zealand look like genuine semi-final contenders. If not, the cracks will show against top-order batting lineups.
Key match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, February 21, Colombo — the Super 8 opener. A win here establishes New Zealand as the group’s benchmark team.
Verdict: 🟠 Semi-final contenders. Fitness of Santner and Ferguson is the key variable.
4. Sri Lanka — Danger at Home
Sri Lanka enter the Super 8 on a wave of momentum and home support. Their eight-wicket victory over Australia — which simultaneously ended the Australians’ tournament — was built on Dasun Shanaka’s scintillating 19-ball fifty, the fastest half-century ever by a Sri Lanka batter in T20Is. Sri Lanka’s 100th win in T20Is came in the group stage too — a milestone that captures the depth of their experience in this format.
Group 2 is played largely in Sri Lanka, meaning R. Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele — surfaces that Sri Lanka know better than any of their Group 2 opponents. Home conditions in T20 cricket are a significant advantage, and Sri Lanka will use every bit of it.
Key match: England vs Sri Lanka, February 22, Pallekele — Sri Lanka will be desperate to establish early dominance on home soil.
Verdict: 🟢 Dark horses. Home conditions and current form make them genuinely dangerous.
Semi-Final Predictions
Based on group stage form, squad depth, current conditions, and fixture difficulty:
From Group 1:
- 🔴 India (strong favourites to top the group)
- 🟠 South Africa (most likely to join them, but West Indies are close)
From Group 2:
- 🟠 New Zealand (consistent, dangerous, experienced)
- 🟡 Pakistan or Sri Lanka (home conditions favour Sri Lanka; Pakistan’s unpredictability makes them a constant threat)
Predicted Final: India vs South Africa — a rematch of the 2024 decider. Dark horse to watch: West Indies in Group 1, Sri Lanka in Group 2.
Key Dates: T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 and Beyond
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Super 8 begins | February 21, 2026 |
| Super 8 concludes | March 1, 2026 |
| Semi-final 1 (Kolkata / Colombo*) | March 4, 2026 |
| Semi-final 2 (Wankhede, Mumbai) | March 5, 2026 |
| Final (Ahmedabad / Colombo)* | March 8, 2026 |
Venue changes apply if Pakistan qualify.
- The Indian Advantage: India plays at Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. These venues are the “holy trinity” of spin in the subcontinent. With Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav in elite form, India’s path to the semi-final is designed to exploit their slow-bowling depth.
- The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Pact: Due to logistical and diplomatic agreements, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka. This means Group 2 teams like England and New Zealand will have to adapt to the coastal winds of Colombo and the swing-friendly evening air of Kandy.
The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 schedule promises everything cricket fans could want — rematches of past finals, historic underdog stories, and some of the world’s greatest T20 players going head-to-head on the biggest stages the sport has to offer. Buckle up.
How to watch T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 live
For fans across the globe, knowing how to watch T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 live is essential as kickoff times vary between day and night fixtures.
In India: The Star Sports Network will telecast all games in 4K, while JioHotstar offers free mobile streaming for data users.
In Sri Lanka: Dialog TV and ThePapare.com are the official homes for the Super 8s.
In the UK & USA: Sky Sports and Willow TV will provide 24/7 coverage.
In Australia: Fans can stream matches exclusively on Prime Video.
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