The T20 World Cup has been launched in both India and Sri Lanka. The event took two weeks to set up (February 2nd-6th, 2026). Most notably about the pre-tournament warm-up is that not only the 20 teams competing at this tournament will play in their respective warm-ups but also an additional two teams (India A and Sri Lanka A) will also play as well. It looks like a scheduling blunder when you look at it on the surface. In reality, adding these two teams was done intentionally for a particular reason that is related to the running of tournaments and also provides us with much insight into modern-day international cricket.
The most direct reason for this addition is logistical in nature. ICC (the International Cricket Council) has confirmed a relatively small number of sixteen warm-up games being played out across four cities in both host countries to give teams the opportunity to play new players and also get a feel for the different pitches before the tournament starts on February 7. Due to their busy schedules, some national teams had already engaged in bilateral series and decided to not participate in practice games so that television networks needed to schedule games with teams they could expect would show up to play and provide viewers something to watch. Because of this, it was agreed that the co-hosts could add their “A” teams to help fill this gap.
A selection and development logic is also at play. India, who has only had one official warm-up game before the tournament for the senior side, now gets competitive minutes at home on their pitches with India A. They are also able to provide selectors with live data under pressure. They can also use it to assess whether returning players are match fit and to audition bench strength in a game situation rather than in nets. Fans may have seen one of the advantages of the system already, as the return of Tilak Varma in India A was closely monitored as a form and fitness check for the tournament.
Sri Lanka uses “A” to achieve the same thing. With the senior team having been busy with other commitments (including a recent T20I series), the team has limited opportunity to warm up, but by using the A team to allow for local players to get experience on pitches they know, it will allow the board to increase the pool of players that have experience on tournament pitches. In essence, these matches allow for the testing of prospects under pressure and provide a safety net for the senior team.
Warm-up sessions are often considered a kind of hybrid – neither true international games nor just practice – but as demand for content continues to rise, both from broadcasters and fans, the importance of warm-ups is growing again, with teams wanting low-stakes/pre-competitive rehearsals. The ICC has published information on multiple warm-ups to be broadcast/ticketed, helping to make warm-ups small spectacles in their own right. Although for purists, this may be considered a dilution of what should be played at the highest level, for young players trying to make their mark, these 20-over games can have a significant impact on their professional careers.
We can take into account additional tournament-related considerations. The 2026 T20 World Cup will be the largest ever—20 teams from two countries (India and Sri Lanka), resulting in a compacted, TV-friendly warm-up window due to the increased logistical demands associated with this tournament. As player workload management continues to be a focus for governing bodies through 2026, “A” teams will serve as inventive scheduling scaffolds; they can maintain tournament timeliness while not forcing fatigued international players to play additional matches.
What to watch in these fixtures? Beyond the scoreline, look at players making claims for themselves – a young batter working hard for runs against some of the great international bowlers, a spinner using a slow pitch to his advantage, and a pace bowler regaining his rhythm. Often the first signs of these micro-stories will appear in warm-ups, and they can change the narrative of who’s going to win the tournament. Historically, warm-up games have provided unbelievable performances, thus confirming that the next headline in international cricket often starts with a so-called low-pressure performance.
Therefore, when you notice “India A” or “Sri Lanka A” on the scoreboard, please consider it as a valuable opportunity rather than a waste of time. What it is intended to do is address the modern-day reality of busy calendars, home-board commitments, wide broadcasting demand, and the need to provide young players with a stage to showcase their ability. The two letters (A) for these two teams in the World Cup could be where tomorrow’s superstars first shine.
