Honestly, every time the T20 World Cup comes around, I turn into that annoying friend who won’t shut up about cricket. I still remember exactly where I was in 2007 when India won the first one—screaming at the TV in my tiny hostel room while Yuvraj smashed Stuart Broad for six sixes and then MS Dhoni finished it off against Pakistan. That feeling has never left me. The ICC T20 World Cup is just different. It’s short, it’s brutal, it’s full of moments that can make or break careers in a single over. And the 2024 edition? Man, that was something else. Co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA, it felt like cricket was finally going truly global. The final in Barbados—India vs South Africa—was one of those games you’ll tell your grandkids about. Kohli’s 76 under pressure, Rohit’s captaincy, and then that heart-stopping last over where Suryakumar Yadav pulled off the catch of the century to get rid of David Miller. When India won by 7 runs, the whole country lost its mind. Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja retiring from T20Is right after lifting the trophy—it was perfect. No better way to go out. And let’s not forget the surprises: the USA beating Pakistan in a Super Over, Afghanistan reaching the semis, crowds going wild in New York. It showed how the format has grown beyond the big boys. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s the reason so many of us stay up till 3 a.m. watching cricket.

Now fast-forward to right now—January 2026—and we’re just a couple of weeks away from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting on February 7. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and it’s going to be massive. Twenty teams, four groups, Super Eights, semis, and the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India open against the USA at Wankhede on day one, and the India-Pakistan match is on February 15 at the Premadasa in Colombo. The groups look stacked: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA in Group A; Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman in B; England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy in C; and South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Scotland, UAE (qualifiers pending) in D. Playing in February in India and Sri Lanka means we’re probably in for some absolute thrillers—dew in the evenings, big totals, and high-pressure chases. Tickets are already going like hotcakes. Phase 2 is live, starting as low as ₹100 in India and LKR 1000 in Sri Lanka. You can book on BookMyShow or the official cricketworldcup.com tickets site, and there are hospitality packages too if you want to go all out. If you’re in Maharashtra like me, this is your chance to catch a World Cup game live—whether it’s the India-Pakistan blockbuster or watching the boys defend their title at home. The pressure on the Indian team is going to be unreal, but that’s what makes it so exciting.

At the end of the day, the T20 World Cup has changed cricket forever. It’s given us Misbah’s scoop gone wrong in 2007, Carlos Brathwaite’s four sixes in 2016, Ben Stokes’ heroics in 2022, and now India’s redemption in 2024. It’s also opened the door for new countries and new heroes. As we head into 2026, I’m genuinely buzzing. Can India go back-to-back on home soil? Can Pakistan finally win one? Will Afghanistan or the West Indies pull off another miracle? This format is made for drama, for underdogs, for moments you’ll never forget. If you haven’t got your T20 World Cup tickets yet, don’t sleep on it—the good ones will vanish fast. Whether you’re in the stadium or screaming from your couch, this tournament is going to be pure magic. Cricket at its most electric. Can’t wait to see what happens next.