The mother of all cricketing battles descends upon Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium as India and Pakistan collide in the most anticipated fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Both sides enter undefeated, perched atop Group A with commanding back-to-back victories. India have cruised past USA and Namibia with minimal fuss, while Pakistan recovered from a Netherlands scare to dismantle USA in emphatic fashion. The narrative is deliciously layered: India boast a staggering 7-1 head-to-head advantage in T20 World Cup history, including a clean sweep of three encounters during last year’s Asia Cup.
Yet Pakistan arrive with five consecutive T20I wins, a spin attack in devastating form, and intimate familiarity with these Colombo conditions where both their matches have been contested. Rain clouds hover ominously over the evening forecast, threatening to inject DLS chaos into cricket’s most pressure-soaked rivalry. Form, history, conditions, and weather collide in what promises to be an absolute classic.
India vs Pakistan Win Probability
RCBW vs DCW Batting Tips
IND vs PAK, Group A T20 World Cup 2026 27th Match Details
| Match | ICC T20 World Cup 2026, 27th Match, Group A |
| Date | Sunday, February 15, 2026 |
| Time | 07:00 PM (IST) |
| Venue | R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
IND vs PAK Team Form – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
India
India are in imperious touch (W, W, W, W, L), with two dominant World Cup wins. Their key strength is an explosive, in-form batting lineup. Ishan Kishan is striking at an astronomical 222 in 2026, fresh off a 61 off 24 vs Namibia. Hardik Pandya (52 off 28) and Tilak Varma are providing middle-order muscle. The bowling unit has serious firepower, with Jasprit Bumrah hitting his straps and Varun Chakravarthy (3/7 vs Namibia) unplayable on helpful surfaces. The psychological edge is monumental—they have never lost to Pakistan in a T20 World Cup across eight meetings.
Pakistan
Pakistan are flying high (W, W, W, W, W) with five consecutive T20I wins. Their key strength is a devastating spin attack tailored perfectly for Colombo. Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and the X-factor Usman Tariq (unfamiliar action, 3/27 on debut) have taken 13 of 18 wickets. Sahibzada Farhan is in career-best touch (73 off 41 vs USA). Their realistic objective is to strangle India’s power-hitters in the middle overs and target their unfamiliarity with this venue. The key challenge is overcoming a crippling 1-7 World Cup record against this opponent.
IND vs PAK Probable Playing XI
India Probable XI-
Abhishek Sharma / Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar / Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav / Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan Probable XI-
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Record (T20 World Cups)
| Total Match Played | 08 |
| IND Won | 07 |
| PAK Won | 01 |
| Draw/No Result | 00 |
IND vs PAK Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is a slow, spinning surface. Scores in the 160-170 range are competitive, with the highest in the last seven T20Is being 182. The surface slows considerably as the game progresses, offering sharp turn and grip for spinners. Both teams will target 170+; India may aim for 190 if their batting clicks. 16 overs of spin were deployed by Pakistan against USA expect similar here.
IND vs PAK Weather Report
The forecast is troubling. Moderate rain showers are expected during the day, with precipitation totals around 25-27mm possible. Rain chances continue into the evening match window. Humidity will be high. There is a genuine threat of interruptions and potential DLS reduction.
IND vs PAK Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss will almost certainly choose to bowl first. This decision is driven by two factors: 1) Overcast skies favor seam bowlers early, and 2) If DLS comes into play, chasing a revised target is significantly less complicated than setting one.
IND vs PAK Match Prediction
This is the tightest India-Pakistan contest in years. Pakistan’s spin attack, Abrar, Shadab, Nawaz, and the mystery of Usman Tariq is the single greatest threat to India’s batting lineup on this sluggish surface. They also possess superior venue familiarity.
However, India’s 7-1 World Cup record is not a coincidence. They have consistently found answers to Pakistan’s bowling puzzles. Their batting lineup is deeper and more versatile, with multiple players capable of countering quality spin. Ishan Kishan’s 2026 form (strike rate 222) is a game-changer at the top. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube provide left-hand right-hand combinations that disrupt spin rhythm.
Pakistan’s batting remains their vulnerability. Babar Azam’s strike rate concerns persist, and the middle order is yet to be tested by a world-class pace attack operating with the new ball under lights.
Expect a low-scoring, spin-dominated chess match where every run is fiercely contested. Pakistan will push India to the limit. But India’s superior batting depth, historical dominance, and proven ability to win these high-stakes encounters should see them extend their unbeaten World Cup run against their arch-rivals.
IND vs PAK Dream11 Team
- Wicketkeeper: Ishan Kishan, Usman Khan
- Batters: Suryakumar Yadav, Sahibzada Farhan, Tilak Varma
- All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shadab Khan, Axar Patel
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Abrar Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah
Captain (C) Pick: Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya.
Vice-Captain (VC) Pick: Sahibzada Farhan, Abrar Ahmed.
