T20 World Cup 2026: Is there a reserve day for semi-final and final?

The Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is heading towards the conclusion. After the Super Eights, we’ll get four teams that will complete the semi-final lineup. Two of those will then play in the final. 

But there remains one big question: 

Is the reserve day available for the semi-finals and the final in the T20 World Cup 2026?

Although a weather interruption looks unlikely, the ICC has allotted the reserve day to both semi-finals and the final.

The first semi-final, scheduled on March 4, will have a reserve day on March 5. The second one, slated for March 5, will have its reserve day on March 6. And the final, scheduled for March 8, will have the reserve day on March 9.

When will the reserve day come into play?

While the umpires will try to finish the matches on the scheduled day, if weather interruptions don’t allow a result, then the reserve day will come into play.

Apart from the reserve day, the ICC has also allotted additional time to complete matches.

There will be 90 minutes of extra time available on the scheduled day of both semi-finals. On the reserve day, the additional time will stretch to 120 minutes.

For the final, there’s a provision for 120 minutes of extra time, on both the scheduled and reserve days.

The umpires can use this additional time to complete matches with reduced overs (if necessary) on the scheduled or the reserve day.

What if knockout matches move to reserve days?

If a knockout match moves to the reserve day, two scenarios will play out.

The match will either:

• Resume from the last ball bowled on the scheduled day
• Or completely restart as a 20-over game

Let’s understand both scenarios with examples.

Scenario 1

Suppose the first semi-final starts as a 20-over-per-side match. Bad weather interrupts play after nine overs.

After some time, the overs are reduced to 17 per side. The match is about to resume, but the weather interrupts again, prompting the umpires to abandon the play on the scheduled day.

Since the match didn’t resume with reduced overs, we will restart the match as a 20-over-per side contest on the reserve day.

Scenario 2

Now, after a weather interruption, a 20-over-a-side match is reduced to 17 per side. The match resumes, allowing one over to be bowled, before another disruption.

Since the match resumed with revised overs, the game will continue as 17 overs per side on the reserve day.

Must Read | Powerplay Overs Rule for Shortened T20 Matches

What’s the minimum overs needed for a result?

The playing conditions mandate the team batting second must face at least 10 overs, unless a result has been achieved before that, for a match to be constituted.

What if the semi-finals and the final end with no result?

If the semi-finals don’t produce a result on either the scheduled or the reserve day, the teams with the most points in the Super Eights will advance to the final.

And if the final can’t produce a result, then both the finalists will be joint-winners of the tournament.

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