Mumbai: Indian cricket legend Rohit Sharma, who led India to the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, has been appointed official tournament ambassador for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, marking a historic first for the prestigious tournament.

The announcement was made on Monday by ICC Chairman Jay Shah during a Mumbai event. The 37-year-old skipper becomes the first currently playing cricketer to hold the ambassador role for a T20 World Cup edition.

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T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026, will feature 20 teams across eight venues, five in India (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai) and three in Sri Lanka. The tournament format includes four groups of five teams each, promising intense cricket action.

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Sharma's credentials remain unmatched. As India's T20 World Cup-winning captain, he led the squad to their first ICC title in 11 years, ending a championship drought since 2013. During the 2024 campaign, Rohit emerged as India's highest run-scorer with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, including explosive knocks against Australia (92 off 41) and England (57 off 39 in semi-final).

The legendary opener's T20 World Cup success extends beyond recent glory. Sharma was instrumental in India's inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 victory, scoring 88 unbeaten runs in the final against Pakistan. His T20 international career encompasses 4,231 runs at an average of 32.01, cementing his legacy as one of cricket's finest short-format batters.

Expressing pride in his new role, Sharma stated, "It is great to have the tournament back in India and for me to be associated with it as Brand Ambassador. I wish all players the very best and hope they enjoy India's hospitality while creating memorable experiences."

India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands. All Pakistan matches will be hosted in Sri Lanka under neutral-venue arrangements.