The International ICC has confirmed the 2026 T20 World Cup warm-up match schedule, which will be played from February 2 to February 6. These schedules will serve as the final preview for each team before the game. 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup The tournament will begin on February 7, giving players one last chance to fine-tune their skills, combinations and game awareness ahead of the big event.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Format and Team Plans

Warm-up games are designed to prepare teams in a low-pressure environment. Unlike official T20I matches, these fixtures have greater flexibility. All 15 members of a team may participate, and no fixed lineup is required to be announced at the time of the dice roll. This setup allows teams to freely rotate players, manage workloads and test multiple combinations without worrying about match results.

For India, the approach will be slightly different. The adult men’s team is scheduled to play only one warm-up match and the rest of the matches will be played by the India A team. This strategy allows the front office to provide valuable exposure to fringe players while ensuring key members of the home team remain fresh for the tournament opener.

The World Cup begins the day after the warm-up window closes, making these games even more important. Teams will focus less on results and more on execution – whether that’s solving the opening pairing, experimenting with bowling options at the death, or finding the right balance in the middle order.

Ground and pitch conditions in India and Sri Lanka

Warm-up matches will be held in India and Sri Lanka, providing the teams with a variety of venues and weather conditions similar to those during the tournament.

The BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru is known for its balanced surface and consistent bounce, making it an ideal place for batsmen and fast bowlers to find their rhythm.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has historically favored spin, allowing teams to test their Super League plans and slow bowling combinations.

Dr. DY Patil’s Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai offers batting-friendly tracks and fast outfields that are perfect for improving the execution of power shots and killer hits.

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In Sri Lanka, venues such as the R Premadasa Stadium and Sinhala Sports Club offer slower pitches and wet conditions to help teams adapt to the challenging conditions.

2026 T20 World Cup warm-up matches: Schedule

• February 2 – Afghanistan vs. Scotland 3pm UTC in Bangalore
• February 2 – vs USA at Navi Mumbai, 5 pm IST
• February 2 – vs. Italy in Chennai, 7pm CST
• February 3 – Sri Lanka A vs Oman, Colombo, 1pm IST
• February 3 – 3pm NDT vs Zimbabwe in Colombo
• February 3 – Nepal vs UAE at 5pm IST
• February 4 – Namibia vs Scotland at Bengaluru, 1pm IST
• February 4 – Afghanistan vs West Indies at Bengaluru at 3pm NIST
• February 4 – vs Pakistan in Colombo, 5pm IST
• February 4 – vs South Africa at Navi Mumbai, 7 pm IST
• February 5 – Oman vs Zimbabwe, 1pm IST in Colombo
• February 5 – vs Nepal at 3pm CST in Chennai
• February 5 – vs USA in Navi Mumbai, 5pm NZST
• February 6 – face UAE in Chennai at 3pm IST
• February 6 – India A vs Namibia 5 pm at Bengaluru (IT)

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