COLOMBO, Feb 10, 2026 – Defending champions Australia begin their quest for back-to-back titles on Wednesday, February 11, as they face Ireland in a crucial Group B opener of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The match is set for the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Despite entering the tournament as heavy favorites, Mitchell Marsh’s side is grappling with a depleted pace attack and a string of recent losses.

Match Details: Australia vs Ireland, Group B

• Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

• Time: 3:00 PM Local | 1:30 PM UTC | 7:00 PM IST | 8:30 PM AEDT

• Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Where to Watch: Prime Video (Australia), Star Sports/JioHotstar (India)

Australia’s Injury Crisis: A New-Look Pace Attack

For the first time since 2016, Australia will feature in an ICC tournament without their legendary “Big Three” fast bowlers.

• Pat Cummins (Back) and Josh Hazlewood (Achilles/Hamstring) are both sidelined.

• Mitchell Starc has retired from the T20I format.

• Tim David will also miss the Ireland clash due to a lingering hamstring strain.

Nathan Ellis has been declared fit to lead the attack, supported by Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis. Captain Mitchell Marsh expressed confidence in the squad’s depth: “We’ve built a squad of 18-20 players who’ve featured over the last 12 months. We have great confidence they’ll get the job done.”

Ireland Aiming for Another World Cup Upset

Ireland, led by Paul Stirling, are looking to bounce back from an opening-game loss to Sri Lanka. While they struggled with fielding errors in that match, the Irish side boasts a wealth of experience.

• Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy will lead the bowling.

• Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector remain the anchors of a batting unit capable of punishing a secondary Australian bowling line-up.

Head-to-Head Record: Australia vs Ireland in T20Is

Pitch Report & Conditions

The R. Premadasa Stadium is known for its slow, turning tracks. Adam Zampa will be the X-factor for Australia, while Ireland’s Matthew Humphreys could prove dangerous if the ball grips.

• Weather: Clear skies, no rain expected.

• Average Score: High 150s; teams batting first have a slight historical advantage.

Predicted Playing XIs

Australia XI:

1. Travis Head

2. Mitchell Marsh (c)

3. Cameron Green

4. Josh Inglis (wk)

5. Glenn Maxwell

6. Marcus Stoinis

7. Matthew Renshaw

8. Nathan Ellis

9. Xavier Bartlett

10. Adam Zampa

11. Matthew Kuhnemann

Ireland XI:

1. Paul Stirling (c)

2. Ross Adair

3. Lorcan Tucker (wk)

4. Harry Tector

5. Curtis Campher

6. George Dockrell

7. Gareth Delany

8. Mark Adair

9. Barry McCarthy

10. Matthew Humphreys

11. Craig Young

PingTV Prediction

While Australia’s bowling is uncharacteristically green, their explosive batting order (Head, Maxwell, Stoinis) remains one of the best in the world. Expect Ireland to compete early, but Australia’s depth should carry them to a winning start.

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