Three Takeaways from the 2026 T20 World Cup Group Stage

Ben Taylor

Editor

Last updated: Mon 23 Feb 2026 12:00

Ben Taylor 23 Feb 2026

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2026 IT20 World Cup boasts 20 teams, highlighting cricket's global growth.
Italy and USA challenge top teams, questioning cricket's expansion beyond Commonwealth.
Surprises include Zimbabwe's win over Australia; 2016 legends' potential resurgence.

West Indies' Jason Holder (C) celebrates with teammates after taking a wicket during the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup. (Photo by Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP via Getty Images)

The 2026 men's IT20 World Cup has had all sorts of talking points on and off the pitch. From giant killings to throwback performances, the tournament has delivered plenty of storylines. Here are three takeaways as we head towards the end of the groupstage you might have missed.

On the surface this is the biggest Cricket World Cup ever with 20 teams participating. Many are associate nations, which is nothing new in and of itself but it is great to see the expansion.

The Netherlands have been an ever present in recent years and Scotland along with the USA and UAE have featured and been involved in upsets in the past. What's become clear however this year is that these nations are no longer just token participants but rather here to play.

Italy showed incredible promise defeating Nepal with ease and pushing England to within 2 overs of a major upset. The success of both the USA and Italian teams does raise the question - is Cricket finally growing outside of the realms of the Commonwealth?

The Italian team has had its talent nurtured across test playing nations. Not one player in the Italian squad was born there and many continue to apply their trade outside of the nation.

Players such as Grant Stewart and JJ Smuts are full time professionals whilst others such as the Mosca brothers and Crishan Kalugamage are part time. The Mosca brothers consisting of Justin and Anthony are PE teachers and carpenters by trade and play cricket for Campbelltown in the NSW league. Kalugamage currently resides in Italy and works as a Pizza chef in Lucca commuting 220 miles a week to play cricket in Rome.

The irony of Donald Trump wishing the USA Cricket team good luck is not lost on anyone, with only 4 of the US team being born in the States. The remainder of the team originate from a mix of the sub continent and the southern hemisphere.

Despite what it may look like, Cricket still has work to do to become a truly global sport. The development of grassroots Cricket needs to be prioritised across all nations represented in order to make the game truly global.

Group Stage Recap

The term Giant killing is more synonymous with the FA cup but defeats to favourites can happen in any sport. In Cricket, England’s failures against lower ranked European sides have been well documented but this year despite some shaky moments England managed to avoid major embarrassment.

After a failure in Test Cricket and white balls tours, it was England who many expected to fail this World Cup. Not many however would have written Australia down to not even make the Super 8’s. Zimbabwe upset Australia for the second time, replicating the performance of the 1983 world cup.

A wash out in Pallekele between Zimbabwe and Ireland sealed the deal on Australia's fate no matter the result against Oman in the final group stage game. Across the remaining groups they are what the bookies expected. Pakistan need to beat Namibia in their final game to confirm their place in the Super 8’s alongside neighbours India in group A.

In group C England and the West Indies head through but not in the order some would have thought. The West Indies need to beat Italy in their final game to seal top spot but it is without doubt the Italians won't go down without a fight.

Finally group D sees South Africa and New Zealand head through to the Super 8’s. Pre tournament many saw Afghanistan as potential dark horses but despite the game of the tournament so far against South Africa the blue tigers have failed to Impress.

Guess it’s 2016 Again.

Social media can make anything a trend. Since the beginning of the year professional teams and influencers have been sharing posts from 2016 with captions such as “POV: Its 2016”. But what if it really is 2016 again? In 2016 three nations held the top spot of the ICC T20 rankings. India, West Indies and Sri Lanka. The latter two nations have not held the top spot since.

Sri Lanka headed into the tournament on the back of two white ball series defeats to England yet now look unstoppable. Kusal Mendes sits third in the leading run scorer table with 168 at an average of 84, whilst Pathum Nissanka scored 100* off just 52 balls against Australia. The host nation looks to bring this form into the Super 8’s and show that they are back in the big time.

The decline of West Indian cricket has been painful to witness, with moments of past glamour only reinforcing the feeling that hope can often be the cruellest part. It's hard to believe it's been ten years since Carlos Braithwaite hit Ben Stokes for four sixes in a row to win the T20 world cup but since then West Indian Cricket has been in a turbulent downward spiral. With declining attendances and “meeting of the legends” taking the front page rather than cricketing performances, this could be the turning point for West Indies Cricket.

The unpredictability of this year’s tournament has not only reshaped expectations on the pitch but also sparked debate around the structure of the Super 8 stage.