The Men's ICC T20 World Cup is back, with India aiming to defend their title on home soil (and across Sri Lanka) as the early tournament favourites.
Indeed, India have a solid history in this format of the game, and are the world's #1 nation. In the points system, they have almost twice as many as the second-placed team, Australia, highlighting their dominance in the short form of the game.
Will they prove this after a successful T20 series against New Zealand in the build-up? Or will nations like Australia, England, South Africa, and others stop them from becoming the sole record holders on three?
The groups have been set, with the following:
- Group A: India, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan, United States
- Group B: Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
- Group C: England, Italy, Nepal, Scotland, West Indies
- Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United Arab Emirates
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 stage, where two groups of four will compete in a round-robin format. The top two from each group will then advance to a knockout phase, playing a semi-final and then a final.
When Is the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup?
The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will begin on Saturday, February 7, with the first game starting at 16:30 AEDT.
The final is scheduled for Monday, March 9, at 00:30 AEDT.
Where Is the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Held?
The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka.
How To Bet On the Cricket 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
You can bet on the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup with our latest cricket betting odds. We provide odds across various markets, including outrights, game-specific bets, and props.
To enjoy betting at Sportsbet, simply head over to the match or event you want to wager on, click on the odds to add them to your betting slip, set your stake, and then hit 'Place Bet' to confirm it!
Cricket 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup: Betting Preview
As noted, India are the early favourites and we are predicting a likely win for one of the host nations. They are the best country in this format of the game, and by some considerable distance.
They have been very strong at home in T20 matches, winning almost two-thirds of matches played on their pitches. They are currently on a run of nine consecutive bilateral T20I series wins at home.
For additional value, the each-way bet could be worth exploring. The value lies in considering an outsider a potential winner, with Australia a likely contender in our view. They have players who have been strong across the conditions they are likely to face, with good IPL exposure over recent years.