The T20 World Cup is almost here, and excitement is building among fans around the world. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 9, 2026. India will enter the competition as the defending champions after winning the title in 2024.
The World Cup will begin on February 7 with Pakistan taking on the Netherlands in Colombo at 05:30 GMT. Two more matches will be played on the opening day, with West Indies facing Scotland and India playing against the USA.
Matches will be played across eight venues, five in India and three in Sri Lanka. In India, games will be hosted in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.
Sri Lanka's matches will be played in Kandy and at two venues in Colombo. The semifinal matches will be held in Kolkata and Mumbai, while the final will take place in Ahmedabad. Colombo has been kept as a backup venue in case Pakistan qualify for the knockout stage.
One of the key venues in India is the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This stadium is expected to host several group-stage matches during the T20 World Cup 2026.
In this article, let's take a look at how many matches will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the T20 World Cup.
T20 World Cup 2026 matches at Arun Jaitley Stadium
Date
Time
Match
Match No.
Group / Stage
Tue, Feb 10
5:30 AM
NED vs NAM
10th Match
Group A
Thu, Feb 12
1:30 PM
IND vs NAM
18th Match
Group A
Fri, Feb 13
9:30 AM
CAN vs UAE
20th Match
Group D
Mon, Feb 16
5:30 AM
AFG vs UAE
28th Match
Group D
Wed, Feb 18
5:30 AM
SA vs UAE
34th Match
Group D
Sun, Mar 1
9:30 AM
TBC vs TBC
51st Match
Super 8 Group 1
(X2 vs X4)
The first match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, will be played on Tuesday, February 10, with the 10th match of Group A, between the Netherlands and Namibia. On Thursday, February 12, India will face Namibia in the 18th match of Group A.
On Friday, February 13, Canada will take on the UAE in the 20th match of Group D. This is followed by the 28th match on Monday, February 16, where Afghanistan will play against the UAE. Next, on Wednesday, February 18, South Africa will meet the UAE in the 34th match of Group D.
Finally, on Sunday, March 1, New Delhi will host one match of the Super 8 stage, the two teams are yet to be confirmed (TBC vs TBC). This match will be part of Super 8 Group 1 and will be contested between the teams that finish second in one group (X2) and fourth in another group (X4).
It is important to note that India has played 4 T20Is at this venue, with 2 defeats and 2 wins. On the other hand, South Africa has played two matches and at this stadium, with wins in both the matches. Afghanistan have played a single match against England.
Namibia, Canada and the Netherlands have played no match at this stadium.
Arun Jaitley Stadium T20I record
Statistic
Value
Total matches
8
Matches won batting first
4
Matches won bowling first
4
Average 1st innings score
171
Highest total recorded
221/9 (India vs Bangladesh)
(Data by Howstat)
Looking at the stats, 8 matches have been played at this stadium. The teams have won an equal number of games, whether batting first or bowling first, with 4 wins each.
The average score in the first innings has been 171, showing that teams usually post a competitive total.
The highest score recorded at this venue is 221 for 9 wickets, set by India against Bangladesh, proving that big scores are possible when a team bats well.
How the pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium will play out?
The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi usually provides good batting conditions. Early in the match, the surface is flat and hard, which allows the batters to play their shots freely.
The ball comes onto the bat nicely, so batters can score quickly in the first few overs. The short boundaries and fast outfield make it easier to hit fours and sixes, so the powerplay overs become very important for scoring.
However, as the game progresses and the ball gets older, the conditions start to change a bit. Spinners can also get some turn in the middle overs because the pitch tends to dry out, which makes the ball grip and turn more.
Overall, the stadium provides a sporting pitch, allowing both batters and bowlers to perform. Fast bowlers can take early wickets with the new ball, while spinners can become more effective as the innings go on.
So, matches here usually have a good balance between batting and bowling, and teams that adapt well during both the early and middle overs usually do better.
Arun Jaitley Stadium (Source:X)
