The T20 World Cup 2026 is heating up — and the points table is already throwing up surprises. Zimbabwe stunned Australia in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, UAE grabbed their first-ever win, and India quietly moved to the top of Group A. With the race to the Super 8 tightening, Net Run Rate (NRR) is starting to matter just as much as wins.
Co-hosted by ICC T20 World Cup 2026 across India and Sri Lanka, the tournament features 20 teams split into four groups. Only the top two from each group will move ahead — and as of February 13, every single game is shifting the qualification math.
Group A: India Climb to the Top
Group A has turned into a tight two-horse race.
India national cricket team now lead the table with 4 points from two matches and a strong NRR of +3.350. Their clinical win over Namibia pushed them past Pakistan national cricket team, who also have 4 points but trail on net run rate (+0.932).
The Netherlands remain in contention with 2 points, while USA and Namibia are yet to open their account. With India and Pakistan both unbeaten, a slip-up from either side could change the entire picture.
Group B: Zimbabwe’s Historic Win Rocks Australia
| Team | PL | W | L | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +3.350 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.932 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.356 |
| USA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.525 |
| Namibia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.284 |
| Team | PL | W | L | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +3.125 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.984 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1.100 |
| Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.200 |
| Oman | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.600 |
| Team | PL | W | L | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.625 |
| Scotland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.950 |
| Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.352 |
| England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.650 |
| Nepal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.200 |
| Team | PL | W | L | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.919 |
| South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.750 |
| UAE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.030 |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.555 |
| Canada | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.526 |
What the Columns Mean
NRR – Net Run Rate (key tiebreaker if teams are level on points)
PL – Played
W – Wins
L – Losses
PTS – Points (2 per win)
This is where the drama peaked.
Zimbabwe national cricket team defeated Australia national cricket team to go 2-0 against them in T20 World Cup history. That result has pushed Zimbabwe to 4 points and right into Super 8 contention.
Australia, who earlier crushed Ireland to boost their NRR, suddenly find themselves under pressure.
Meanwhile, co-hosts Sri Lanka national cricket team sit at the top after a massive 105-run win over Oman. Ireland and Oman now face a steep climb if they want to stay alive in the tournament.
Group C: West Indies Shine, Italy Surprise England
Group C is quietly turning into one of the most unpredictable pools.
West Indies cricket team are leading after a commanding 30-run win over England cricket team in Mumbai. Scotland hold second place for now.
But here’s the twist — Italy’s win over Nepal has placed them above England in the standings. England, despite having a win, are currently fourth due to NRR. Nepal remain at the bottom but still have games in hand.
Group D: New Zealand and South Africa in Control, UAE Get Off the Mark
Group D has largely gone as expected at the top.
New Zealand national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team both have two wins from two matches. New Zealand lead on NRR (+1.919), but both sides look comfortable for now.
The big talking point here is United Arab Emirates national cricket team registering their first win of the tournament, defeating Canada by five wickets. They now sit third with 2 points.
Afghanistan and Canada are yet to find momentum and will need near-perfect performances in their remaining games.
Why Net Run Rate Is Becoming Crucial
With several teams tied on points across groups, NRR is already acting as the silent decider. India, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand currently benefit from strong margins of victory. For teams like England and Australia, even one narrow defeat could prove costly.
The group stage still has matches to go, but the margins are shrinking fast. A single upset — like Zimbabwe’s win over Australia — can flip the standings overnight.
As the tournament heads deeper into its league phase, expect more twists. If the first 20 matches are any indication, this T20 World Cup isn’t following the script.
