The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has reached its most electrifying phase. The Super 8 stage officially begins on February 21 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with New Zealand taking on Pakistan in the opening fixture of a round-robin format that will ultimately decide the four semi-finalists.

The eight qualifiers have been divided into two groups. Group 1 features India, Zimbabwe, West Indies, and South Africa, while Group 2 pits Pakistan against Sri Lanka, England, and New Zealand. Each team plays three matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Crucially, no points or net run rate from the group stage carry over, meaning every side starts from zero in what amounts to a fresh tournament.

The group stage produced no shortage of drama and memorable performances. India were arguably the most dominant side, sweeping through their Group A fixtures unbeaten. Their statement result came on February 15 in Colombo, where they crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by 61 runs in the 27th match of the tournament. Ishan Kishan delivered a sensational knock of 77 off just 40 balls on a slow, spin-friendly surface, earning him the Player of the Match award. Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with 32 off 29 and Shivam Dube contributed a quickfire 27 as India posted 175 for 7.

Pakistan's reply never got off the ground. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah shared three wickets in the first two overs, leaving the batting lineup in disarray. Only Usman Khan offered meaningful resistance with 44 off 34 balls, but Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs. The result extended India's extraordinary T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-1, a dominance that borders on the surreal given the fierce rivalry between the two nations.

Pakistan, however, recovered their composure to clinch the final Super 8 berth with a commanding 102-run win over Namibia. They will need to replicate that form immediately against a New Zealand side that topped Group D alongside South Africa. The Black Caps, ever dangerous in ICC events, present a stern opening challenge for Salman Ali Agha's men.

Elsewhere in the group stage, two-time champions West Indies became the first team to secure Super 8 qualification with a nine-wicket demolition of Nepal and remained unbeaten throughout. Zimbabwe also impressed, advancing from Group B alongside hosts Sri Lanka. Australia, meanwhile, were among the notable casualties, with Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 64 against Oman proving insufficient to save their campaign overall.

The Super 8 schedule promises blockbuster encounters in quick succession. Following the New Zealand-Pakistan opener, England face Sri Lanka in Kandy on February 22 before the marquee clash of the round: India versus South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad that same evening. Zimbabwe and West Indies complete the opening round of fixtures on February 23 in Mumbai.

With all eight teams resetting to zero points, the Super 8 stage effectively functions as a mini-tournament within the tournament. Form and momentum from the group stage will count for something, but history shows that T20 cricket's inherent unpredictability means nothing can be taken for granted. The road to the final begins now, and the cricketing world will be watching every ball.