Fresh off lifting the ODI crown, India's women's cricket team now has its sights firmly set on the T20 silverware. Having claimed the ODI World Cup last year, the side wants to script another chapter of history on the grounds of England and Wales. The Women's T20 World Cup 2026 runs from June 12 to July 5, and all eyes will be on captain Harmanpreet Kaur along with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.
It Begins With Pakistan on June 14
India's very first test of the tournament arrives in the shape of its most talked-about fixture. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will want to take the opening stride towards the title by beating Pakistan. Sunday, June 14, is circled on every cricket fan's calendar, and the wait for this clash has been a long one. The road to being crowned world champions starts right here.
12 Teams, Two Groups — A Bigger Format
This is the 10th edition of the tournament, and this time a total of 12 teams are taking part. The previous event featured 10 teams, meaning two more sides have been added for this edition. All the teams have been split into two groups, with six teams in each. As for the record books, India have reached the semifinals of this World Cup on five occasions and finished as runners-up in 2020.
India have been placed in Group 1 alongside Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The team kicks off its journey on Sunday against Pakistan in Birmingham.
India's Full Schedule (IST)
- Sunday, June 14: India vs Pakistan, Birmingham — 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, June 17: India vs Netherlands, Leeds — 7:00 PM
- Sunday, June 21: South Africa vs India, Manchester — 7:00 PM
- Thursday, June 25: India vs Bangladesh, Manchester — 7:00 PM
- Sunday, June 28: Australia vs India, Lord's (London) — 7:00 PM
How the Tournament Is Structured
Across 24 days, a total of 33 matches will be played at seven different venues. Under the format, every team plays each of the other sides in its group once. Once the group stage wraps up, the top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals. The last-four ties are cross-matchups — the Group 1 winner faces the Group 2 runner-up, while the Group 2 winner takes on the Group 1 runner-up.
Both semifinals and the final will be staged in London. The semifinals will be played at The Oval, and the title decider will take place at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground. Historically, Australia are the most successful team in this competition, having won the trophy six times. England, the West Indies and current champions New Zealand have also got their hands on the title.
Where and How to Watch Live in India
Viewers at home can follow the action through both digital and television platforms. Live streaming of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will be available on JioHotstar. On television, the matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD.
