The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ended with a familiar champion and a brand-new record. India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026, becoming the first men’s team to win three T20 World Cup titles and the first to successfully defend the trophy.
If you missed the tournament or want a quick refresher, this T20 World Cup 2026 recap covers everything: where it was played, how the format worked, the group stage, the knockouts and the final.
T20 World Cup 2026 at a Glance
| Edition | 10th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
| Hosts | India and Sri Lanka |
| Dates | February 7 to March 8, 2026 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Final venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Champions | India |
| Runners-up | New Zealand |
| Final result | India won by 96 runs |
Hosts and Venues
India and Sri Lanka shared hosting duties. Matches were played at grounds including Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Kolkata in India, and Colombo and Pallekele in Sri Lanka. Under an agreement between the Indian and Pakistani cricket boards, Pakistan played all of their matches in Sri Lanka.
Tournament Format
Twenty teams were split into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group moved on to the Super 8, which was played as two groups of four. The top two from each Super 8 group reached the semi-finals.
The Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | India, Pakistan, Netherlands, USA, Namibia |
| B | Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman |
| C | England, West Indies, Scotland, Italy, Nepal |
| D | New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE, Canada |
Italy made history simply by being there, playing in their first men’s T20 World Cup. In Group A, Pakistan beat the USA by 32 runs in Colombo, getting revenge for the shock defeat the Americans inflicted on them in 2024. Read the full story in our Pakistan vs USA match report.
Super 8 Stage
| Super 8 group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group 1 | India, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe |
| Group 2 | England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan |
Zimbabwe were one of the stories of the tournament, reaching the Super 8 from a group that included Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka. In the end, India and South Africa came through Group 1, while England and New Zealand advanced from Group 2, ending the hopes of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Semi-Finals
- March 4, Kolkata: New Zealand beat South Africa by nine wickets.
- March 5, Mumbai: India beat England by seven runs.
The two semi-finals could not have been more different. New Zealand cruised past South Africa with nine wickets to spare, while India needed to hold their nerve to edge out England by just seven runs.
The Final: India vs New Zealand
On March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India produced a dominant performance to beat New Zealand by 96 runs, one of the biggest winning margins ever seen in a T20 World Cup final. It was a fitting end for the hosts, who had carried the pressure of defending their title on home soil all tournament long.
The win gave India their third T20 World Cup after 2007 and 2024. No other men’s team has won the trophy three times, and no team had ever successfully defended it before.
T20 World Cup Winners List
| Year | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2007 | India |
| 2009 | Pakistan |
| 2010 | England |
| 2012 | West Indies |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | West Indies |
| 2021 | Australia |
| 2022 | England |
| 2024 | India |
| 2026 | India |
What Comes Next
The next men’s T20 World Cup will be held in 2028 in Australia and New Zealand. After reaching this final, the Black Caps will have home advantage and plenty of motivation to finally lift the trophy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the T20 World Cup 2026?
India won, beating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026.
Where was the 2026 T20 World Cup held?
It was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
How many times has India won the T20 World Cup?
Three times: in 2007, 2024 and 2026. India are the only men’s team with three titles.
Want to understand the game better? Read our guide to T20 vs ODI vs Test cricket and the 10 most important rules of cricket.
Sources: Sky Sports, Britannica and ICC.
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