The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is underway, and Group A is already generating excitement. The tournament, which began on February 7, 2026, features 20 teams vying for the title across eight venues in the two host nations.
Current Standings in Group A
After the first day of matches, the Group A points table looks like this:
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) | Form | | :---------- | :----- | :-- | :--- | :-------- | :----- | :----------------- | :----- | | India | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.450 | W | | Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.239 | W | | Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.239 | L | | USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.450 | L |
India's Performance
Suryakumar Yadav's men started their campaign with a 29-run victory against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India, after being put in to bat, faced an early collapse, slipping to 46/4. However, a captain's knock by Suryakumar Yadav, who scored an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, rescued the innings and helped India post a total of 161/9. Shadley van Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowlers for the USA, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs. In response, the USA managed 132/8 in their 20 overs, with Mohammed Siraj taking 3 wickets for 29 runs for India. Suryakumar Yadav was named the top batting performer, while Shadley van Schalkwyk was recognized as the top bowling performer. Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable for selection due to illness.
Pakistan's Performance
Pakistan secured a narrow 3-wicket win against the Netherlands in their opening match at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo. The Netherlands were all out for 147. Pakistan chased down the target with Faheem Ashraf scoring an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls. Pakistan's chase was shaky, but Faheem Ashraf's late hitting ensured they crossed the line.
What's Next?
The tournament is set to run until March 8, 2026. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super 8s, followed by the semi-finals and the final. Group A promises to be a closely contested group, with India and Pakistan both aiming for a spot in the Super 8s. However, the USA and the Netherlands will be looking to cause an upset and secure their place in the next round. Namibia will also be a team to watch out for, as they have the potential to surprise a few teams.
Other Matches on Day 1
In other matches on the opening day, the West Indies defeated Scotland by 35 runs.