The highly anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 group stage match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for Sunday, February 15. This thrilling encounter will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with the toss set for 6:30 PM IST, followed by the first ball at 7 PM.
Expect some changes in the Indian team's playing-11 for this clash. Opening batsman Abhishek Sharma is back in full health and practiced in the nets on February 14. Previously, Abhishek couldn't play against Namibia due to a stomach infection, but with his return, Sanju Samson is likely to sit out.
The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is known to favor spinners, prompting the Indian team to consider including chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in the lineup. This could mean three spinners in India's playing-11. If Kuldeep plays, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh might be sidelined. Jasprit Bumrah, alongside Hardik Pandya, could lead the bowling attack with the new ball, while Shivam Dube remains an option for the pace department.
Pakistan's Tactical Game Plan!
On the other side, Pakistan might field five spinners: Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Sam Ayub, and Mohammad Nawaz. Sam Ayub has been delivering impressive spells recently, providing Pakistan with another spin option. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq is seen as their trump card, a strategy they successfully employed against the USA using five spinners.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed excitement, saying, 'Butterflies in the stomach are expected as we commence the game on Sunday. However, there's no pressure or nervousness—it's a big opportunity.'
Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha humorously remarked, 'Sleep evaded me, but my beard gained more grey! Leading a team and representing 250-260 million people is a big responsibility. As a skipper for your country, responsibility is not something you shy away from.'
India's Probable Playing-11:
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh/Kuldeep Yadav.
Pakistan's Probable Playing-11:
Sam Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed.
