Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis praised India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “superpower” for any captain after he played a key role in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (Mar 5). In a high-scoring contest where both teams crossed the 240-run mark, Bumrah produced an outstanding spell that helped India seal a dramatic seven-run victory and book a place in the final.&nbsp;Praising Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure, Du Plessis said India is very fortunate to have a bowler like him. He explained that giving Bumrah the ball in crucial moments is like having a special weapon that every captain dreams of.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-finalissimma-2026-argentina-vs-spain-match-fate-on-march-27-in-qatar-hanging-in-balance-amid-us-israel-iran-war-1772773885610">Finalissimma 2026 | Argentina vs Spain match fate on March 27 in Qatar hanging in balance amid US-Israel-Iran war</a>&nbsp;“Team India doesn't understand how lucky they are to have him in their ranks. It is just proven time and time and time again, regardless of the format, you just give him the ball and he wins you games. It's a superpower that any captain will dream of; it's like having a genie, you just rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah," Du Plessis told ESPNcricinfo. &nbsp;&nbsp;In the run-fest where 499 runs were scored across both innings, Bumrah conceded just 33 runs at an economy rate of just 8.25 while picking up a crucial wicket. His disciplined spell came at key stages of England’s chase, with the pacer bowling in the fifth, 11th, 16th and 18th overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-brook-takes-blame-for-england-heartbreaking-loss-says-dropping-sanju-samson-catch-was-a-big-mistake-t20-world-cup-semifinal-mumbai-india-1772736091688">Brook takes blame for England’s loss, says dropping Samson was a big mistake</a>&nbsp;Du Plessis also pointed out that Bumrah’s unusual bowling action makes him difficult for batters to read. Even when his delivery is slightly off, batters often struggle to react in time. He compared Bumrah’s unique style to that of former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who also troubled batters with his distinctive action.&nbsp;&nbsp;“His action is so unique that you struggle to pick up how quickly the ball comes out of his wrist. It's a skill, but it is also to do with the mystery of his action, almost like what Lasith Malinga did back in the day. The point of difference makes it really hard to line him up in terms of if he misses,” the former South African player added.&nbsp;&nbsp;India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis praised India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “superpower” for any captain after he played a key role in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (Mar 5). In a high-scoring contest where both teams crossed the 240-run mark, Bumrah produced an outstanding spell that helped India seal a dramatic seven-run victory and book a place in the final. Praising Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure, Du Plessis said India is very fortunate to have a bowler like him. He explained that giving Bumrah the ball in crucial moments is like having a special weapon that every captain dreams of. Also Read - Finalissimma 2026 | Argentina vs Spain match fate on March 27 in Qatar hanging in balance amid US-Israel-Iran war “Team India doesn't understand how lucky they are to have him in their ranks. It is just proven time and time and time again, regardless of the format, you just give him the ball and he wins you games. It's a superpower that any captain will dream of; it's like having a genie, you just rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah," Du Plessis told ESPNcricinfo. In the run-fest where 499 runs were scored across both innings, Bumrah conceded just 33 runs at an economy rate of just 8.25 while picking up a crucial wicket. His disciplined spell came at key stages of England’s chase, with the pacer bowling in the fifth, 11th, 16th and 18th overs. Also Read - Brook takes blame for England’s loss, says dropping Samson was a big mistake Du Plessis also pointed out that Bumrah’s unusual bowling action makes him difficult for batters to read. Even when his delivery is slightly off, batters often struggle to react in time. He compared Bumrah’s unique style to that of former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who also troubled batters with his distinctive action. “His action is so unique that you struggle to pick up how quickly the ball comes out of his wrist. It's a skill, but it is also to do with the mystery of his action, almost like what Lasith Malinga did back in the day. The point of difference makes it really hard to line him up in terms of if he misses,” the former South African player added. India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With inputs from agencies

India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

'He is a superpower...': Faf du Plessis praises Jasprit Bumrah after T20 World Cup semifinal heroics

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday (Dec 11) that tickets for the 2026 T20 World Cup are now on sale. In a social media post, the ICC said fans can start buying tickets from 6:45 pm, with prices starting as low as ₹100 (about $1.11) at some venues in India and LKR 1000 (about $3.26) in Sri Lanka. The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. There will be 20 teams in the tournament, divided into four groups of five.&nbsp;

India is in Group A along with Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA. India, the defending champions, will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the biggest rivalries, India vs Pakistan is set for Feb 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Pakistan will play all its games in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/yuvraj-singh-birthday-2025-top-5-greatest-moments-of-his-cricket-career-1765445903696">Yuvraj Singh birthday 2025: Top 5 greatest moments of his cricket career</a><h2>T20 World Cup 2026 groups</h2><ul><li>Group A: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia and USA</li><li>Group B: Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman</li><li>Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal and Italy</li><li>Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada</li></ul><h2>Complete schedule of the T20 World Cup 2026</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Date</td><td>Time</td><td>Team 1</td><td>Team 2</td><td>Venue</td></tr><tr><td>07 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>PAK</td><td>NED</td><td>SSC, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>07 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>WI</td><td>BAN</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>07 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>IND</td><td>USA</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>08 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>NZ</td><td>AFG</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>08 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>ENG</td><td>NEP</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>08 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>SL</td><td>IRE</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>09 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>BAN</td><td>ITA</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>09 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>ZIM</td><td>OMA</td><td>SSC, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>09 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>SA</td><td>CAN</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>10 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>NED</td><td>NAM</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>10 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>NZ</td><td>UAE</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>10 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>PAK</td><td>USA</td><td>SSC, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>11 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>SA</td><td>AFG</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>11 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>AUS</td><td>IRE</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>11 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>ENG</td><td>WI</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>12 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>SL</td><td>OMA</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>12 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>NEP</td><td>ITA</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>12 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>IND</td><td>NAM</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>13 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>AUS</td><td>ZIM</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>13 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>CAN</td><td>UAE</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>13 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>USA</td><td>NED</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>14 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>IRE</td><td>OMA</td><td>SSC, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>14 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>ENG</td><td>BAN</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>14 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>NZ</td><td>SA</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>15 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>WI</td><td>NEP</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>15 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>USA</td><td>NAM</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>15 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>IND</td><td>PAK</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>16 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>AFG</td><td>UAE</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>16 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>ENG</td><td>ITA</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>16 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>AUS</td><td>SL</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>17 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>NZ</td><td>CAN</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>17 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>IRE</td><td>ZIM</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>17 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>BAN</td><td>NEP</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>18 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>SA</td><td>UAE</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>18 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>PAK</td><td>NAM</td><td>SSC, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>18 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>IND</td><td>NED</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>19 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM (IST)</td><td>WI</td><td>ITA</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>19 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>SL</td><td>ZIM</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>19 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>AFG</td><td>CAN</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>20 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>20 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>20 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>AUS</td><td>OMA</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>21 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>21 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>21 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y2</td><td>Y3</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>22 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>22 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y1</td><td>Y4</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>22 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X1</td><td>X4</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>23 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>23 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>23 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X2</td><td>X3</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>24 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>24 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>24 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y1</td><td>Y3</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>25 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>25 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>25 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y2</td><td>Y4</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>26 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>26 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X3</td><td>X4</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr><tr><td>26 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X1</td><td>X2</td><td>Chennai</td></tr><tr><td>27 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>27 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>27 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y1</td><td>Y2</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>28 Feb 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>28 Feb 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>28 Feb 2026</td><td>7:00 PM &nbsp;(SLST)</td><td>Y3</td><td>Y4</td><td>Kandy</td></tr><tr><td>01 Mar 2026</td><td>11:00 AM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>01 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X2</td><td>X4</td><td>Delhi</td></tr><tr><td>01 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>X1</td><td>X3</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>02 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>02 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>03 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>03 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>04 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>SF1</td><td>KO</td><td>Kolkata</td></tr><tr><td>04 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (SLST)</td><td>SF1</td><td>KO</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>05 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>05 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>SF2</td><td>KO</td><td>Mumbai</td></tr><tr><td>06 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>06 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>07 Mar 2026</td><td>3:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>07 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>08 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (SLST)</td><td>FINAL</td><td>KO</td><td>Premadasa, Colombo</td></tr><tr><td>08 Mar 2026</td><td>7:00 PM (IST)</td><td>FINAL</td><td>KO</td><td>Ahmedabad</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

The top two teams from each group will move to the Super Eight stage. After Super Eight, the top two in each group will move into the semi-finals. The semi-finals are set for March 4 and 5, whereas the final will be held on March 8.&nbsp;If Pakistan make it to the first semi-final and the final, both games will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. If they do not qualify, the first semi-final will be played in Kolkata, and the final will be held in Ahmedabad.

India is in Group A along with Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA. India, the defending champions, will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday (Dec 11) that tickets for the 2026 T20 World Cup are now on sale. In a social media post, the ICC said fans can start buying tickets from 6:45 pm, with prices starting as low as ₹100 (about $1.11) at some venues in India and LKR 1000 (about $3.26) in Sri Lanka. The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. There will be 20 teams in the tournament, divided into four groups of five.

India is in Group A along with Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA. India, the defending champions, will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.&nbsp;

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tickets to go live, prices start at...

In 2006, Italy reigned supreme in the world of football, FIFA World Cup champions for a fourth time in their illustrious history. The people of Rome, Milan, and Naples went wild with celebrations, the Azzurri forever carved in the sport's golden annals. Roll forward to 2025, and Italy has just done the same thing but with an entirely different sporting achievement—its national cricket team has qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Yes, cricket. In Italy. &nbsp;It's not merely a strange headline or a heartwarming tale of a plucky underdog. It's a moment that underscores the changing international character of cricket, the surprise emergence of associate countries, and perhaps, quietly, the remaking of Italy as a sports nation beyond its football-had-to-be-first persona.<h2>A tale of two sports</h2>In order to measure the size of this achievement, one must first understand the background. Italy, the football colossus, failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2022—a collapse that shook a country that is obsessed with football. Those two failed tournaments were not solely football failures; they were national failures, identity crises in football boots. Meanwhile, another team was silently crafting its own story. Italy's cricket team was climbing up the ranks of the ICC's associate setup. And in July 2025, they did what was unimaginable a decade prior: Italy earned qualification for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. There has been cricket played in Italy for more than a century, but it was very much a niche sport—sustained by expat communities from the South Asia region and the UK. The shift occurred when the ICC ramped up investment in associate country grassroots and high-performance programmes. Italy, under the administration of the Federazione Cricket Italiana, began to make its cricketing aspirations a priority. Systems grew, and facilities improved, with coaching formalised. Home competitions developed in strength. The outcome was a side that didn't merely play European regional qualifiers—they started to dominate them.<h2>Symbolism beyond sport</h2>Italy's qualification for cricket has this unusual and symbolic duality. On the one hand, it's a tale of redemption of a sporting nation for new avenues following its football heartbreaks. And on the other, it's the quiet, consistent ascent of cricket as an international game, no longer limited to its customary bastions of South Asia, Australasia, or the UK. This is also an account of migration and multiculturalism. The same constituencies that usually reside on the fringes of Italian society have now pridefully added their flags to the national one in a wholly unexpected context. Cricket, usually stereotypical of post-colonial British exportation, is now being forcefully utilised by Italians with flair, intent, and pride.<h2>What's next?</h2>The true test starts in 2026. Italy will be placed with full-member nations, some of the finest T20 teams around the globe. They won't win much. They might get beat. But they will be home. &nbsp;Already, Italian media are realising cricket's hour. School children in Naples and Bologna are learning to handle plastic bats in playgrounds. Regional clubs are contacting the cricket federation, hoping to host matches or create teams. It's not just a qualification—it might be the beginning of a cricketing rebirth in Southern Europe. Football might still be king—but cricket has found its voice. It would be naive to set football and cricket against each other in Italy. One is an old religion, the other a new curiosity. But Italian qualification for the World Cup is not a matter of substituting one for the other. It's about growth, about narrative, about including new dreams. If 2006 was Italy's year of footballing triumph, and the subsequent years were spent in introspection and change, then perhaps 2026 will be a year of sporting reimagining—when Italy, bold and fiery, takes to a cricket pitch in front of the global audience and proves that greatness is not just one thing, but many things, on many pitches. For in sport, as in life, the greatest stories tend to start when no one is looking.

Not just pasta and Pirlo Italy serves a cricketing surprise as it qualifies for ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026

In 2006, Italy reigned supreme in the world of football, FIFA World Cup champions for a fourth time in their illustrious history. The people of Rome, Milan, and Naples went wild with celebrations, the Azzurri forever carved in the sport's golden annals. Roll forward to 2025, and Italy has just done the same thing but with an entirely different sporting achievement—its national cricket team has qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Yes, cricket. In Italy. It's not merely a strange headline or a heartwarming tale of a plucky underdog. It's a moment that underscores the changing international character of cricket, the surprise emergence of associate countries, and perhaps, quietly, the remaking of Italy as a sports nation beyond its football-had-to-be-first persona. A tale of two sports In order to measure the size of this achievement, one must first understand the background. Italy, the football colossus, failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2022—a collapse that shook a country that is obsessed with football. Those two failed tournaments were not solely football failures; they were national failures, identity crises in football boots. Meanwhile, another team was silently crafting its own story. Italy's cricket team was climbing up the ranks of the ICC's associate setup. And in July 2025, they did what was unimaginable a decade prior: Italy earned qualification for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. There has been cricket played in Italy for more than a century, but it was very much a niche sport—sustained by expat communities from the South Asia region and the UK. The shift occurred when the ICC ramped up investment in associate country grassroots and high-performance programmes. Italy, under the administration of the Federazione Cricket Italiana, began to make its cricketing aspirations a priority. Systems grew, and facilities improved, with coaching formalised. Home competitions developed in strength. The outcome was a side that didn't merely play European regional qualifiers—they started to dominate them. Symbolism beyond sport Italy's qualification for cricket has this unusual and symbolic duality. On the one hand, it's a tale of redemption of a sporting nation for new avenues following its football heartbreaks. And on the other, it's the quiet, consistent ascent of cricket as an international game, no longer limited to its customary bastions of South Asia, Australasia, or the UK. This is also an account of migration and multiculturalism. The same constituencies that usually reside on the fringes of Italian society have now pridefully added their flags to the national one in a wholly unexpected context. Cricket, usually stereotypical of post-colonial British exportation, is now being forcefully utilised by Italians with flair, intent, and pride. What's next? The true test starts in 2026. Italy will be placed with full-member nations, some of the finest T20 teams around the globe. They won't win much. They might get beat. But they will be home. Already, Italian media are realising cricket's hour. School children in Naples and Bologna are learning to handle plastic bats in playgrounds. Regional clubs are contacting the cricket federation, hoping to host matches or create teams. It's not just a qualification—it might be the beginning of a cricketing rebirth in Southern Europe. Football might still be king—but cricket has found its voice. It would be naive to set football and cricket against each other in Italy. One is an old religion, the other a new curiosity. But Italian qualification for the World Cup is not a matter of substituting one for the other. It's about growth, about narrative, about including new dreams. If 2006 was Italy's year of footballing triumph, and the subsequent years were spent in introspection and change, then perhaps 2026 will be a year of sporting reimagining—when Italy, bold and fiery, takes to a cricket pitch in front of the global audience and proves that greatness is not just one thing, but many things, on many pitches. For in sport, as in life, the greatest stories tend to start when no one is looking.

Cricket has been played in Italy for over a century, but it remained largely a niche sport—kept alive by expatriate communities from South Asia and the UK

Not just pasta and Pirlo: Italy serves a cricketing surprise as it qualifies for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

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'He is a superpower...': Faf du Plessis praises Jasprit Bumrah after T20 World Cup semifinal heroics

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tickets to go live, prices start at...

Not just pasta and Pirlo: Italy serves a cricketing surprise