Live: T20 Worldcup 2026

Tens of thousands of Indian cricket fans crowded the T20 World Cup final stadium on Sunday, and millions more were glued to their televisions, desperate to witness a historic home triumph.

India face New Zealand in Ahmedabad as they attempt to become the first team to retain the trophy, the first to win it on home soil and the first to claim a third world T20 crown.

Cricket’s T20 showpiece, a month-long tournament of 55 matches featuring 20 teams, concludes on Sunday evening at the 130,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue.

Diehard supporters arrived from across the country, many clad in Indian colours and waving the tricolour flag as the match began.

Anil, a wedding photographer, travelled 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) by train from the southern city of Hyderabad with his brother, dreaming they would see their team triumph.

“I hope India wins,” said the 18-year-old who goes by only his first name.

Hundreds of vendors, all dressed in Indian jerseys, lined the pavement from the nearest metro rail station to the stadium — painting the entire kilometre-long stretch blue.

“We want to just win this World Cup for the third time,” said Sachin Verma, 32, a banker from Lucknow.

‘Home crowd behind us’

Businessman Yogen Vohra, from Mumbai, turned up with a large group of his friends.

“For us, India are the favourites,” said Vohra, 45.

India, the world’s top-ranked T20 team, knocked out England in a nerve-shredding semi-final in Mumbai.

The match drew 619 million views on streaming platform JioHotstar, according to the company, including a 65 million peak at the same time.

International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah said it “shattered the world record for digital viewership”.

India, the world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion people, is the epicentre of the T20 game through the lucrative Indian Premier League.

In the capital, New Delhi, government civil servant Dilip Vaishnav was hoping Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah would weave his magic again with the ball, as he did against England.

“The team looks in great shape and great spirits. Bumrah, as ever, is the silent guardian of the team,” the 37-year-old said.

Dozens of Bollywood dancers and live music entertained the vast crowds before the match.

Grammy-winning singer Ricky Martin also performed. “Sport and music have a unique way of bringing people together,” Martin said, in a statement ahead of the match, saying it was a “celebration of that shared passion”.

Also on stage were Indian musicians, including Gujarati singer Falguni Pathak and Bhangra star Sukhbir.

Rashid Khan, from Uttar Pradesh state, said he believed “the whole country will stop to watch” Sunday’s blockbuster.

“India has been playing fearless cricket in this tournament,” the 52-year-old said.

“If our top order fires, I don’t see anyone stopping us. New Zealand are always dangerous in knockouts, but with the home crowd behind us, I’m confident India will lift the trophy.” Indian student Mitelesh Guglia, 21, said he was backing his home team — but offered praise to their rivals.

“New Zealand… they are always fierce on the field, but still maintain their sportsmanship in them,” he said. “I think they play with great spirit.”

The best way to deal with pressure is to embrace it, India captain Suryakumar Yadav reminded his teammates ahead of tomorrow’s final of the T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Leading the team in the final of a home World Cup was a “special feeling”, and Suryakumar said they were looking forward to the challenge.

“There are nerves, butterflies in the stomach, but as I always say — if there’s no pressure, there’s no fun,” Suryakumar tells reporters.

“I’m very excited. All the boys and support staff, and I’m sure all of India is excited for tomorrow.”

Read more here.

India face New Zealand on Sunday in Ahmedabad, looking to become the first side to lift the T20 World Cup for a third time but under huge pressure with the weight of a nation on their shoulders.

Standing in the way of Suryakumar Yadav’s side are a team who have already upset the odds with a thumping nine-wicket win over the previously unbeaten South Africa to reach the final.

New Zealand believe, after Finn Allen’s record 33-ball century in the semi-final in Kolkata, that they are capable of taking down the hosts to win their maiden T20 World Cup title.

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New Zealand’s Finn Allen blasted the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in Kolkata on Wednesday as his side hammered South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final.

Chasing 170 to win the first semi-final, Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, to obliterate the previous mark of 47 balls by Chris Gayle, as New Zealand raced home with 7.1 overs to spare.

Allen went on a rampage as he finished with two fours, two sixes and a four off successive balls to hit the winning runs and reach his hundred with a roar of delight at Eden Gardens.

Read more here.

India will need a “special performance” to beat a “street-smart” England in their T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, bowling coach Morne Morkel warned on Wednesday.

Sanju Samson’s sparkling 97 not out enabled India to chase down 196 against the West Indies in a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday in Kolkata.

Morne said India would again need someone “to put their hand up” against Harry Brook’s side on Thursday night to keep the nation’s dream of a home World Cup win alive.

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Unbeaten South Africa continue their quest for a maiden World Cup title in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, with a potential repeat of the 2024 final against India awaiting.

Should Aiden Markram’s side inflict their second defeat of the tournament on New Zealand — they beat them comfortably in the group stage — then a rematch against India for the trophy could be on the cards.

Suryakumar Yadav’s defending champions will first have to get past Harry Brook’s England in Mumbai on Thursday — a blockbuster clash that is being talked about excitedly across the cricket-mad city.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed each member of the squad for the T20 World Cup Rs5 million following their “underwhelming” campaign, ESPNcricinfo reported on Monday.

According to the report, the fines were not for disciplinary reasons, but specifically for what the cricket board deemed “poor performance” at the event.

“They were imposed immediately following Pakistan’s match against India in the group stages, where a meek showing resulted in a 61-run defeat,” it stated.

Read more here.

Sanju Samson’s sparkling unbeaten 97 kept alive India’s dream of retaining the T20 World Cup at home as they knocked out the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday to set up a semi-final against England.

Samson hit 12 fours and four sixes in his superb 50-ball knock in the winner-takes-all final Super Eights match to thrill a capacity 67,000 fans at a pulsating Eden Gardens.

Read more here.

South Africa survived a brilliant all-round show by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to record a five-wicket win on Sunday, which means they remained unbeaten ahead of a semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday.

After Zimbabwe scored 153-7 in New Delhi, South Africa survived an early wobble.

Dewald Brevis hit 42 off 18 balls as the 2024 runners-up reached 154-5 in 17.5 overs.

Read more here.

Pakistan were put out of their misery at the T20 World Cup when they failed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs or less after posting a challenging total of 212.

Once Sri Lanka had eliminated Pakistan from the tournament, the rest of the match was irrelevant from a Pakistani perspective. In the end both Pakistan and Sri Lanka were losers.

Pakistan had failed to defeat any major team in the tournament before this game, and that says everything you need to know about the current standing of Pakistan in world cricket.

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Pakistan’s shortcomings were laid bare during their lacklustre T20 World Cup campaign which ended on Saturday when the team failed to reach the semi-finals.

From the captain Salman Agha, who was criticised for not being a T20 player, to slow batting rates and the use of all-rounders not up to the job, the Green Shirts were shown to be behind the times in the rapid-fire format.

Read more here.

Unbeaten South Africa look to “maintain discipline and intensity” in their last Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup against Zimbabwe, batting coach Ashwell Prince said on Saturday.

The 2024 runners-up have already secured a semi-final place ahead of their match in New Delhi on Sunday.

The Aiden Markram-led side will take to the pitch in the dead rubber game after scoring convincing wins over hot favourites India and two-time champions West Indies in the Super Eights.

Zimbabwe meanwhile have stunned Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the group stages.

Read more here.

West Indies coach Daren Sammy believes history can repeat itself as he aims to mastermind a T20 World Cup victory to end India’s hopes, just as he did when captain 10 years ago.

Sammy led his side to a T20 World Cup semi-final win against India in Mumbai in 2016 and went on to lift the trophy as they beat England in the final in Kolkata.

It is on that same Eden Gardens pitch that Sunday’s clash will play out in front of 68,000 partisan fans.

Although it is nominally a Super Eights game, it is in reality a straight shootout — the winners will move on to the semi-finals and the losers go home.

Read more here.

A disappointed Salman Agha said his team had “underperformed” after they exited the T20 World Cup on Saturday, but held back from making an “emotional” decision on his future as Pakistan captain.

Pakistan were knocked out on net run rate despite beating Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match in Kandy on Saturday.

“We have underperformed in the whole tournament,” Agha told reporters.

Read more here.

Shaheen Afridi missed his length on the first delivery and was sliced for a four.

Shanaka dispatched the next delivery for a 97-metre six on the off side. The next ball was again struck for a six on the leg side, as Sri Lanka inched ever closer to the target.

The next delivery … wait for it … went for another six! A hat-trick of sixes by Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka.

He then decided to scoop it behind himself but missed it completely, resulting in a dot ball.

The last ball ended in a dot ball too, denying the Sri Lankans their dream finish over the final line.

Shadab started the over with a googly outside off stump, which was declared a wide. Shanaka then heaved the ball over long-off for a huge six off the second delivery after being given the strike.

He then pumped the ball, a wayward delivery towards the off side for a double.

A six off the fourth delivery got Shanaka his 50. He attempted another big shot off the fifth delivery but only managed a single.

A dot ball to end the over.

Shaheen started the over with a yorker, but was played off the pads for a single.

Another good delivery, a yorker outside the off stump resulted in a dot ball.

Rathnayake tried to pump the third straight down the ground but ended up in an easy catch at long on, bringing an end to an otherwise brilliant innings by the Sri Lankan batsman.

Wellalage, the new man in, took a single to get off the mark, before Shanaka edged the fifth delivery between third and backward point for a four.

Shaheen ended the over with a yorker.

Naseem Shah was struck for a six off the first delivery by skipper Shanaka. He dropped the next ball short and only conceded a single.

Rathnayake tried to scoop the third delivery over the head and was almost caught by Zaman, who lost the ball as he fell to the ground after a diving effort.

A yorker on the last delivery conceded only a single.

Usman Tariq was dispatched for a six off the first delivery, before a double on the second.

The third ball was hit straight down the ground but didn’t manage to go the distance and dropped just short of the fielder on long-off. Shanaka managed to get a double.

Pakistan are now out of the T20I World Cup.

A double to end the over.

Shadab Khan came into the attack and conceded singles off the first three deliveries.

The fourth delivery was hit high into the air towards the leg side by Rathnayake, with the bail sailing over the fielder’s head for a six.

The last delivery was again struck for a six by Rathnayake.

Nawaz started the over by conceding single off the first delivery, which brought Shanaka on strike. He too took a single off the second delivery, despite coming out of the crease looking for a big shot.

The third delivery was dropped short but Rathnayake only managed a single. Shanaka then struck the fourth ball for a six on the leg side.

Nawaz recovered quickly, bowling a good delivery and conceding only a single. He then flighted the last ball and was hit for a boundary.

Usman Tariq conceded two singles off the first three deliveries.

The fourth delivery was hit in the gap by Shanaka for a double.

He then beat the final two deliveries for dots.

Nawaz started the over with a dot before conceding a single off the next.

He was unlucky on the third delivery, which the batsman managed to edge fine, beating the keeper and racing to the boundary.

100 up for Sri Lanka with a single off the fourth delivery.

He managed to raise Pakistan’s hopes with a peach of a delivery on the last ball which beat the batsman, Janith Liyanage, and crashed into the stumps.

Sri Lanka are now down 5 wickets.

Abrar returned for the 11th, conceding singles on the first couple of deliveries before being slammed behind square by Rathnayake for a lofty six.

The fourth was batted to long-on by Rathnayake for another single.

Kamindu Mendis defended the fifth to the bowler, before being bowled by a peach of a delivery on the last ball of the over.

Sri Lanka now at 94/4.

Usman Tariq started the over with a wide down the leg side, followed by singles off the next four legitimate deliveries.

The fifth delivery was a bad line by Tariq who was struck for a four through a sweep shot.

The over ended with a single.