T20 World Cup: Arch-Rivals India, Pakistan Face Off in Colombo

One of the most anticipated fixtures of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will see India take on Pakistan in Match 27 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, February 15.

India head into the contest with strong momentum, having opened their campaign with convincing victories over the United States and Namibia. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the side currently sits atop Group A and a win in this high-voltage clash would all but confirm their place in the Super Eights.

Pakistan have also enjoyed an unbeaten start to the tournament. They edged past the Netherlands in a tight contest before registering a dominant win over the United States. Led by Agha Salman, the Men in Green will secure qualification with another victory, making Sunday’s encounter crucial for both teams.

Match Details

The match will begin at 7:00 PM IST in Colombo and will be broadcast on the JioStar Network, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the R. Premadasa Stadium is expected to assist bowlers, particularly in the second innings. Teams chasing have enjoyed success in recent matches at the venue, and with rain likely to play a part, opting to bowl first could prove advantageous.

Head-to-Head Record

India have historically dominated Pakistan in T20 internationals, winning 12 of their 16 encounters, while Pakistan have three victories, with one match ending in a tie that was later decided via bowl-out.

Probable Playing XIs

India are expected to field a strong combination featuring Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy.

Pakistan’s likely XI includes Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Agha Salman, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq and Salman Mirza.

Players to Watch

Abhishek Sharma could be a key figure for India. The opener, who has recovered from illness ahead of the clash, has an impressive record against Pakistan and is known for setting the tempo early.

For Pakistan, off-spinner Usman Tariq will be under the spotlight. Despite scrutiny over his bowling action in recent days, he remains capable of delivering a decisive spell if he finds the right rhythm.

With both sides unbeaten and qualification at stake, the contest promises to deliver another gripping chapter in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.

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