Aussies face Lord’s blockbuster against India as 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup draw revealed

Australia will face India in a blockbuster at Lord’s next June in a clash likely to be pivotal to its bid to reclaim the Women’s T20 World Cup it conceded in a rare form dip last October.

Seeking a fourth straight T20 World Cup title, the champion Australian team was upset in a semi-final by South Africa in the most recent edition, with the Proteas subsequently beaten by New Zealand in the final held in Dubai.

In a draw released early on Thursday Australia time, the Aussies have been grouped with India, South Africa and Pakistan, along with two nations yet to qualify, for the tournament that will be held throughout June and early July in England next year.

Hosts England have been drawn in a group featuring defending champions New Zealand, along with the West Indies and Sri Lanka in a World Cup that will have an additional two teams from the 10 nations which contested the most recent tournament.

The 33-match tournament, to be held over 24 days, culminates in a final at Lord’s on July 5, with matches to be played at seven different venues.

The Australian women, which most recently scored a historic whitewash of the Ashes against England in Australia in January, begin their tournament with a rematch against South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 13.

In a tournament that will see the Aussies travel up and down England, they have a fixture in Leeds on June 17 and in Southampton on June 20. The Aussies will then head back up to northern England to play Pakistan at Leeds on June 24 before the clash against India.

Semifinals for the 2026 T20 World Cup will be played at The Oval on June 30 and July 3 before the final at Lord’s on July 5.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Alyssa Healy of Australia and Shelley Nitschke, head coach of Australia poses for a photograph with the trophy after winning the Women's Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 01, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

When announcing England as the host in May, ICC chairman Jay Shah said the success of the 2017 World Cup held in England was the catalyst for the decision to return to the country next year.

“The United Kingdom’s rich diversity has always shown passionate support for all teams, something we witnessed so memorably at past events,” he said.

“The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women’s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final.

“As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028.”

Australia’s fixtures for 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup

Saturday, June 13 - Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford, 11.30pm (AEST)

Wednesday, June 17 - Australia v TBA, Leeds, 7.30PM (AEST)

Saturday, June 20 - Australia v TBA, Southampton, 7.30PM (AEST)

Wednesday, June 24 - Australia v Pakistan, Leeds, 3.30AM (AEST)

Sunday, June 28 - Australia v India, Lord’s, 11.30PM (AEST)