ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026: Group-by-Group Analysis Before Tournament Kickoff
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Group A: Defending champions India set off as big favourites
Reigning world champions India headline Group A, and they enter the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup as the clear favourites to retain the title and become the most successful team in the competition's history by winning it for a third time.
Our experts are firmly in the corner of the Men in Blue to win their opening match against the USA, with the number-one batter in T20Is, Abhishek Sharma, expected to play a big role. You can find all the insights in our in-depth India vs USA prediction.
Of course, the biggest fixture in this group is India vs Pakistan, but there is huge uncertainty around whether the fixture will go ahead after the Shaheens revealed last weekend that they intend to boycott their match against the champions due to events in the lead-up.
If the Green Shirts follow through with the boycott, it could open the door for one of the other three teams in the group to capitalise, and the USA are viewed as the biggest threat, having beaten Pakistan to reach the Super Eight of the competition back in 2024.
Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Namibia, Netherlands
Group B: Previous champions to battle for top spot
Group B features two past champions, Australia and Sri Lanka, and these two are expected to battle it out for the top two spots in the group, though the Aussies are viewed as the frontrunners according to our ICC T20 World Cup 2026 predictions.
The Baggy Greens enter the tournament as the second-ranked team in the world behind India, but they were completely outplayed by Pakistan in the lead-up, losing their three-match T20I series 3-0 a few weeks ago, which has raised questions around their readiness for the competition.
If the Aussies do not get off to a good start, Sri Lanka are ready to pounce. While they were beaten by England 2-1 last month in a three-match series, they have home advantage as co-hosts and an in-form Pathum Nissanka, who is comfortably placed inside the top 10 batters in T20 cricket.
Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman round out Group B and while they do carry a threat, particularly Zimbabwe, who have enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, the overarching feeling is that they will struggle to upset the top two in this section.
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Group C: Tournament debutants hoping to defy the odds
Italy is the only team that will be making their T20 World Cup debut this year after a truly remarkable qualification campaign in which they pulled off an against-the-odds victory over Scotland to book their place in the competition.
The Scots were handed a lifeline last week when they received an 11th-hour call-up to feature in the tournament after the ICC opted to disqualify Bangladesh for refusing to play their matches in India. Scotland will have their chance to get revenge here as their first game is against none other than the Italians.
Still, the heavyweights in Group C are England, who have assembled a squad capable of going all the way this year. Harry Brook will now lead the team, and with the likes of Phil Salt and Adil Rashid in form leading up to the competition, the Poms are one of the dark horses for the title.
Perhaps the only team that can challenge England for top spot in Group C is the West Indies. Indeed, they have not reached the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup since 2016, when they went on to clinch their second title, but they have a young squad this year and could spring a few surprises if they get into the Super Eight.
Group C: England, West Indies, Italy, Nepal, Scotland
Group D: Widely considered the ‘group of death’
The final group at the 2026 T20 World Cup is widely considered the group of death, as it is the only one that does not feature a previous champion, but does include two former finalists and a semi-finalist from the 2024 edition of the competition.
South Africa are the marginal favourites ahead of the tournament, having reached the final in 2024 where they were agonisingly beaten by India in a match that went down to the final ball. They will also benefit from having staged the SA20 last month, which would have given several of their players perfect preparation.
New Zealand, despite always going under the radar, are always dangerous and have a knack for reaching the latter stages of global tournaments. They’re also well-acclimatised, having faced India in a multi-format tour in the month leading up to this competition.
Afghanistan were the biggest surprise package at the 2024 T20 World Cup, as they got to the semi-final and have retained the core of their squad from that run. The Afghans also beat the West Indies and Zimbabwe in two bilateral series leading up to the tournament, and their familiarity with the conditions will play in their favour.
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
