Mumbai, Feb 7 (.) The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off with a high-octane opening ceremony at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, featuring rapper Badshah, Bollywood star Nora Fatehi, sitar maestro Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, and legendary percussionist Sivamani.
Fans will be treated to breathtaking choreography and the jetpack arrival of the T20 World Cup Trophy, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown as hosts India take on the USA on Saturday evening.
The trophy will then be greeted by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and former India captain Rohit Sharma, who led India to victory in the 2024 edition. They will be joined by 20 children representing each participating country to officially declare the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 open.
Following the trophy presentation, fans can expect high-octane performances from chart-topping singer Badshah and Bollywood sensation Nora Fatehi, supported by a large ensemble of dancers. The show will reach its climax with a grand finale featuring both artists together.
Designed to mirror the pace and energy of T20 cricket, the ceremony uses the field as a visual canvas, with the official tournament logo serving as the main performance stage. The celebration will conclude with a stunning pyrotechnic display, immediately followed by the India vs USA match at 7 pm IST.
Sharing his excitement in a statement, Badshah said, “I’m incredibly excited to be part of this global celebration of sport, entertainment and culture. Music, just like cricket, brings people together, and I can’t wait to bring my energy to this incredible stage.”
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma called the moment a milestone for Indian classical music. “I’ve always believed the sitar belongs in bold, unexpected spaces—places that reshape how people perceive and respect it. Opening the ICC T20 World Cup wasn’t something I imagined, but it’s a powerful step in taking Indian music to a truly global stage. I’m thrilled to share this historic moment and honoured to perform alongside maestro Sivamani in front of 60,000 fans.”
Sivamani echoed the sentiment, underlining the shared spirit of music and cricket. “Both speak a universal language. Performing at the T20 World Cup opening in Mumbai is a great honour. It’s a celebration of India’s energy and passion for the game, and I look forward to connecting with the audience through rhythm before the match begins.”
India have been drawn in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA. The hosts will begin their title defence against the USA in Mumbai on Saturday.
A successful campaign would see India become the first team to defend a Men’s T20 World Cup title. It would also mark their third T20 World Cup triumph, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
‘India T20 World Cup’ squad includes, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
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