Group A of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 gets underway with Pakistan taking on the Netherlands in Colombo on 7 February. The group also features defending champions India, who aim to retain the trophy for the first time in World Cup history.
Other participants include the USA and Namibia, both of whom are expected to be strong competitors in the tournament.
India: Defending Champions and Top-Ranked Side
India enter the tournament as the number one-ranked team in both T20Is and ODIs. They have a strong batting lineup led by Abhishek Sharma, who has scored 1,267 runs in just 37 T20 matches, including two hundreds, with the highest career strike rate of 194.92.
The team is transitioning after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Sharma leading the charge alongside Sanju Samson, who is likely to assume wicket-keeping and opening duties.
On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah continues to be a key strike bowler, while Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin remains a major asset. With three of their four group games in India, the hosts hope to maximize their home advantage.
Namibia: Emerging African Contenders
Namibia will compete in their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup, having reached the Super 12 stage on their debut in 2021. Ruben Trumpelmann, who took four wickets in a previous opener against Oman, returns to bolster the bowling attack.
Craig Williams, a veteran player turned head coach, leads the team as Namibia aims to improve on their past results against India, Pakistan, and the USA.
Netherlands: Tricky Opponents in Orange
The Netherlands are participating in their seventh ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They have twice reached the second round, most recently in 2022. Key players include Bas de Leede, who took 13 wickets in 2022, and Max O’Dowd, who scored 242 runs.
Led by Scott Edwards, the team also features the experienced Roelof van der Merwe, a slow left-arm spinner who has been playing internationally since 2009.
Pakistan: Looking to Bounce Back
After a disappointing campaign in 2024 where Pakistan failed to progress past the group stage, the 2009 champions are eager to bounce back. Salman Ali Agha leads the side, while Babar Azam returns to strengthen the batting line-up.
Young pacer Naseem Shah will look to replicate his standout performance against India in 2024, aiming to help Pakistan reclaim their status as T20 contenders.
USA: The Surprise Package Returns
The USA made headlines in 2024 with strong performances against Pakistan and Canada. Led by Monank Patel, the team will aim to replicate its success on foreign soil.
Saiteja Mukkamalla, the 21-year-old top-ranked batter for the USA, has international hundreds in both white-ball formats and a T20 average of 42.60, making him a key player to watch.
Group A Outlook
Group A promises thrilling T20 action with a mix of strong teams like India and Pakistan, emerging teams like the USA and Namibia, and dark horses like the Netherlands. Fans can expect high-intensity matches, standout individual performances, and potential surprises as the tournament kicks off in Colombo.
