The group phases are achieved and dusted, and the T20 World Cup has delivered every little thing we hoped for and extra. Upsets, tight finishes, and gorgeous particular person performances have set the tone for what guarantees to be an enthralling Tremendous 8s stage.
Eight groups have emerged from the pack, every with its personal strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. India stays unbeaten and appears ominous regardless of not hitting high gear. The West Indies and South Africa have proven their class, while Pakistan have bounced again from final 12 months’s heartbreak. Sri Lanka are harmful on house soil, New Zealand proceed to punch above their weight, England are looking for kind, and Zimbabwe have gate-crashed the get together.
Because the event strikes into its subsequent section, the stakes are larger, the margins finer, and the trail to glory clearer. Here is how every of the eight groups stacks up heading into the Tremendous 8s.
ZIMBABWE
The shock package deal. Sikandar Raza’s aspect have turned heads within the group phases, beating each Australia and Oman to e-book their Tremendous 8s berth. They have expertise. Raza himself and tempo spearhead Blessing Muzarabani are amongst them.
Nonetheless, their batting stays largely untested, they usually benefited from a washout in opposition to Eire. They lack big-match expertise, however what they do have is momentum and perception.
Do not count on Zimbabwe to roll over. They will put their finest foot ahead and see simply how far they’ll go.
ENGLAND
The 2-time champions at the moment are led by Harry Brook, however they’ve barely regarded like contenders. Whether or not it is the captain’s inexperience or a broader subject with their strategy (notably with the bat), one thing is not clicking.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are two of the best T20 openers on the planet, and each know subcontinental circumstances properly. But neither has fired. If England’s batting does not ignite quickly, their marketing campaign might fizzle out earlier than it actually begins.
NEW ZEALAND
The Kiwis have constructed a fame for punching above their weight, particularly when their backs are in opposition to the wall. Their opening pair of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert have been breaking information lately, while their tempo trio of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Jacob Duffy gives real menace.
The center order boasts high quality in Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell, however ending energy stays a priority. Extra worryingly, their spin division is skinny. Mitchell Santner is their lone frontline spinner, and in a event the place sluggish bowlers have thrived, that is a major weak point.
The lack of Michael Bracewell was a hammer blow, and it might come again to hang-out them because the event progresses.
SRI LANKA
The co-hosts have confirmed they seem to be a pressure to be reckoned with, notably on house soil. Regardless of dropping key males in Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana, Sri Lanka’s bowling depth stays spectacular. It is merely a matter of discovering their finest kind on the proper time.
Pathum Nissanka’s magnificence on the high, coupled with the firepower of Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis, makes them a difficult proposition in subcontinental circumstances. Their power-hitting is probably not on the degree they’d like, however on slower, decrease tracks, they’ll get away with it.
Do not write off the co-hosts simply but.
PAKISTAN
The 2009 champions have bounced again. After a shock group-stage exit in 2024, Salman Ali Agha’s aspect have made it by means of to the Tremendous 8s, they usually’ve achieved so with a weapon many groups lack: a formidable spin assault.
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan kind the core, while the mystery-spin duo of Abrar Ahmad and Usman Tariq have made Pakistan a nightmare to face. Add opener Sahibzada Farhan persevering with his wealthy vein of kind, and there is real substance to this aspect.
If they’ll put all of it collectively constantly, Pakistan might be a darkish horse.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Proteas wasted no time hitting their stride. A short wobble in opposition to Afghanistan apart (the place they allowed their opponents again into the competition earlier than finally prevailing), South Africa has been spectacular.
The scars of the 2024 T20 World Cup ultimate stay recent, and what higher revenge than claiming the title on India’s personal turf? They definitely have the firepower to do it.
Their Achilles heel, nonetheless, lies in spin. Keshav Maharaj is world-class, however past him, the choices are restricted. George Linde and Aiden Markram present backup, however neither presents real thriller or penetration. An attacking leg-spinner like Tabraiz Shamsi might need added one other dimension, however for now, South Africa has managed with out. And in ominous kind, they continue to be a real risk.
WEST INDIES
The West Indies have efficiently transitioned past their legendary champions of the previous. Beneath Darren Sammy’s steerage, this aspect has most bases coated and sits comfortably with three wins on the bounce.
While they is probably not firing on all cylinders like India, there’s an simple high quality all through the squad. Many of those gamers have plied their commerce within the IPL, and that have is paying dividends on the large stage.
Their solely real weak point in the mean time is the lack of Romario Shepherd. His all-round contributions with bat and ball can be sorely missed, and the Males in Maroon will desperately need him again within the combine in the event that they’re to repeat their 2016 heroics a decade later.
INDIA
That is arguably the crew to beat. One of many few sides to stay unbeaten within the event, the Males in Blue have marched by means of the group phases with 4 consecutive wins. But regardless of their dominance, they have not fairly hit high gear, which makes all of them the extra horrifying.
India’s struggles have been well-documented. Abhishek Sharma’s incapability to get off the mark and his vulnerability in opposition to spin within the powerplay have been obvious points throughout all 4 matches. Nonetheless, this can be a champion crew for a purpose.
Their squad depth is solely unmatched. Want extra spin? Kuldeep Yadav slots in. Require an opener? Sanju Samson steps up. In search of tempo? Mohammed Siraj is prepared. This sort of flexibility offers India choices that few groups can match.
The scary half? They have not even peaked but. Think about what this aspect might produce on flatter wickets. 4 wins down, and India stays the crew everybody desires to keep away from.
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T20 WORLD CUP 2026: SUPER 8s SCHEDULE
- February 21, 2026 – New Zealand vs Pakistan in Colombo at 7 PM (IST)
- February 22, 2026 – Sri Lanka vs England in Kandy at 3 PM (IST)
- February 22, 2026 – India vs South Africa in Ahmedabad at 7 PM (IST)
- February 23, 2026 – Zimbabwe vs West Indies in Mumbai at 7 PM (IST)
- February 24, 2026 – England vs Pakistan in Kandy at 7 PM (IST)
- February 25, 2026 – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in Colombo at 7 PM (IST)
- February 26, 2026 – West Indies vs South Africa in Ahmedabad at 3 PM (IST)
- February 26, 2026 – India vs Zimbabwe in Chennai at 7 PM (IST)
- February 28, 2026 – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in Kandy at 7 PM (IST)
- March 1, 2026 – Zimbabwe vs South Africa in Delhi at 3 PM (IST)
- March 1, 2026 – India vs West Indies in Kolkata at 7 PM (IST)
T20 WORLD CUP 2026: KNOCKOUTS SCHEDULE
- March 4, 2026 – Semifinal 1 TBC vs TBC in Mumbai at 7 PM (IST)
- March 5, 2026 – Semifinal 2 TBC vs TBC in Ahmedabad/Colombo at 7 PM (IST)
- March 8, 2026 – Last TBC vs TBC in Ahmedabad/Colombo at 7 PM (IST)
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