Biggest upsets in T20 World Cup 2026 group stage

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has already produced some mouth-watering surprises, with underdogs defying expectations and top teams facing unexpected setbacks. 

Even though they could not get a win, it all started when the USA stunned India with their breathtaking bowling performance at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Nepal, too, came agonisingly close to upset England, but could not succeed.

But there were some underdogs who were successful in getting over the line. From debut wins to established giants being thumped, here are the most shocking results from the group stage that shook the tournament:

3. Italy beat Nepal

One of the tournament’s most memorable moments came when Italy chased down Nepal’s modest total without losing a wicket. Batting first, Nepal were restricted to 123, but Italy’s openers gunned down the target in just 12.4 overs, completing a dominant 10-wicket win, their first ever T20 World Cup victory.

This emphatic display underlined how Associate nations have grown in stature. The Mosca brothers were the heroes for team Italy, with both Justin and Anthony scoring an unbeaten 60 and 62, respectively.

2. Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe have produced some stunning results in the tournament. Following their triumph over Australia, they backed it up with another big victory, knocking over Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo. Chasing a mammoth total of 179, the Sikandar Raza-led side batted brilliantly against the hosts.

Opener Brian Bennett continued his dream run with the bat, scoring valuable 63 runs. Tadiwanashe Marumani (34 runs), Ryan Burl (23 off 12), and captain Raza (45 off 26 balls), too, chipped in to take their side over the line. The consecutive wins propelled them to the top of Group B.

1. Zimbabwe beat Australia

The most seismic result of the group stage saw Zimbabwe cause one of the biggest upsets in recent T20 World Cup history, beating Australia. Australia, one of the powerhouses of the format, were bundled out for 146, as Zimbabwe won the contest by 23 runs. The result played a major role in Australia’s early exit from the tournament.

Batting first, Zimbabwe put a respectable 169 in their 20 overs on the back of Brian Bennett (unbeaten 64 off 56), Tadiwanashe Marumani (35 off 21), Ryan Burl (35 off 30), and captain Raza's (unbeaten 25 off 13 balls) contributions.

Blessing Muzarabani then produced one of the finest fast-bowling spells of the competition, picking up four wickets for just 17 runs. His spirited performance was backed up well by other bowlers, as Zimbabwe recorded a famous victory.