The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, ramps up today with a packed slate of 16 official warm-up matches running through February 6. These intra-squad and inter-team fixtures at premier venues provide crucial match practice, fine-tuning strategies, testing pitches, and acclimatizing players to subcontinental conditions ahead of the 55-match spectacle featuring 20 nations vying for glory at 12 stadiums.

Warm-ups are pivotal in T20 cricket, allowing teams to experiment with batting orders, refine death bowling, and integrate fringe players – especially vital this year with Sri Lanka's spin-friendly tracks and India's dew-affected evening games potentially deciding outcomes.

Venues: Iconic Grounds Across Host Nations

India:

• BCCI Centre of Excellence (Grounds 1 & 2), Bengaluru: State-of-the-art facilities with hybrid pitches mimicking World Cup venues.

• DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai: Hosted IPL thrillers; capacity 55,000; known for high-scoring chases.

• MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai: Historic Chepauk, spinner's paradise with passionate crowds.

Sri Lanka (Colombo):

• SSC Cricket Ground: Home to Sri Lanka's Test legacy; pristine outfield.

• R. Premadasa Stadium: 35,000-seater, T20 specialist with floodlit drama.

• Colombo Cricket Club Ground: Intimate venue fostering aggressive play.

All matches follow T20 format (20 overs per side) with timings in IST.

Also Read: David Miller Fit and Ready for T20 World Cup 2026 After Injury Clearance

Full Schedule: Dates and Match Timings (IST)

February 2

• Afghanistan vs Scotland, BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru: 3 p.m.

• USA vs India 'A', DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai: 5 p.m.

• Canada vs Italy, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: 7 p.m.

February 3

• Oman vs Sri Lanka 'A', Colombo Cricket Club Ground: 1 p.m.

• Netherlands vs Zimbabwe, R Premadasa Stadium: 3 p.m.

• Nepal vs UAE, MA Chidambaram Stadium: 5 p.m.

February 4

• Scotland vs Namibia, BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, Bengaluru: 1 p.m.

• Afghanistan vs West Indies, BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1: 3 p.m.

• Pakistan vs Ireland, SSC Cricket Ground: 5 p.m.

• India vs South Africa, DY Patil Stadium: 7 p.m. (Headline clash featuring Rohit Sharma's men)

February 5

• Zimbabwe vs Oman, Colombo Cricket Club Ground: 11 a.m.

• Nepal vs Canada, MA Chidambaram Stadium: 1 p.m.

• Australia vs Netherlands, R Premadasa Stadium: 5 p.m.

• New Zealand vs USA, DY Patil Stadium: 7 p.m.

February 6

• Italy vs UAE, MA Chidambaram Stadium: 3 p.m.

• India 'A' vs Namibia, BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1: 5 p.m.

Broadcast and Live Streaming: Global Access

India's marquee India vs South Africa (Feb 4) airs live on Star Sports Network, streaming on JioHotstar app/website. Select matches on JioHotstar include: Afghanistan vs Scotland (Feb 2), USA vs India 'A' (Feb 2), Canada vs Italy (Feb 2), Nepal vs UAE (Feb 3), Afghanistan vs West Indies (Feb 4), Pakistan vs Ireland (Feb 4), Nepal vs Canada (Feb 5), New Zealand vs USA (Feb 5), Italy vs UAE (Feb 6), India 'A' vs Namibia (Feb 6).

Internationally: Willow TV (USA), Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (Australia), SuperSport (Africa). Free highlights on ICC website/app; radio via BBC and ABC.

India 'A' Squad: Tilak Varma Returns

BCCI's India 'A' side, captained by Ayush Badoni, preps for senior integration with games vs USA (Feb 2) and Namibia (Feb 6). Key returnee Tilak Varma, post-abdominal surgery clearance, bolsters middle-order firepower alongside Riyan Parag's finishing and Ravi Bishnoi's spin wizardry.

Full Squad: Ayush Badoni (c), Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, N. Jagadeesan (wk), Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag, Manav Suthar, Ashok Sharma, Urvil Patel (wk), Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, Mayank Yadav.

Tickets for DY Patil games (India 'A' vs USA, India vs SA, NZ vs USA) available on BookMyShow or stadium box office (₹200-₹2000); expect sell-outs for India clashes.

These warm-ups set the tone for a blockbuster tournament – tune in as underdogs eye upsets and giants gear up!

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