India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2026: The cricketing world is set to stand still this Sunday as India face Pakistan in a Group A blockbuster at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. On the eve of the match, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence on the team’s preparation, the “handshake” controversy, and why Pakistan might start with a marginal advantage in the island nation.
The ‘Colombo factor’: Why Pakistan have a slight edge
Addressing reporters in the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar admitted that the Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan side might be better acclimated to the local conditions. Unlike India, who arrived in Colombo after playing their opening matches in Mumbai and Delhi, Pakistan has been stationed in Sri Lanka for a longer duration.
“They may have arrived earlier and played more in these conditions recently, so they might have a slight advantage in terms of understanding the surface,” Suryakumar noted. However, the World No. 1 T20 batter was quick to add, “But we have our own plans in place. We have played plenty of cricket here in the past, and the boys are ready for the challenge.”
Abhishek Sharma returns; handshake snub remains enigmatic
In a major boost for the Men in Blue, Surya confirmed that explosive opener Abhishek Sharma has recovered from a stomach infection and is available for selection. This sets up a mouth-watering clash against Pakistan’s mystery-heavy spin attack, including the unorthodox Usman Tariq.
The press conference took a tense turn when the topic of the post-match handshake was raised. Following the refusal to shake hands during the 2025 Asia Cup as a mark of respect for Indian soldiers, the skipper remained non-committal about Sunday. “Wait for 24 hours. We are here to play cricket. Have good food and sleep, and we will see tomorrow,” he told the media.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026: Predicted Playing 11
India Playing 11 (Predicted): Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan Playing 11 (Predicted): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Usman Tariq.
India vs Pakistan Match Details
Match: India vs Pakistan, 22nd Match Group A
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Time: 7:00 PM IST (Toss at 6:30 PM)
IND vs PAK Pitch Report: The R. Premadasa surface is expected to be a balanced one, though spin will play a massive role as the game progresses. With a 65% chance of rain forecasted for Sunday evening, the toss-winner will likely opt to bowl first, keeping the DLS method in mind.