Abhishek Sharma Fit to Face Pakistan as Suryakumar Yadav Plays Down Pressure Ahead of Big Clash

Colombo, Feb 2026 : India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday confirmed that young opener Abhishek Sharma is fully fit and will return to the playing XI for the high-profile Group A clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Abhishek had missed India’s second World Cup fixture against Namibia after being admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi on Monday due to a stomach infection. The illness was picked up during India’s earlier match against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In his absence, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was promoted to open the innings against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and made an immediate impact with a quick 22 off just eight balls.

Addressing the media in Colombo ahead of the marquee encounter, Suryakumar left no doubt about Abhishek’s availability. “Yes, he will play,” the India skipper said. “There’s always pressure. With India-Pakistan, it’s more of an occasion. No matter how much we say it’s just another game, it’s human nature to feel the pressure because it’s not any other match. We don’t play them often, so that intensity is always there.”

Weather, however, could play spoilsport in what promises to be one of the most-watched matches of the tournament. Forecasts suggest a strong possibility of rain on Sunday in Colombo, but Suryakumar insisted that conditions are not something the team is overly concerned about. “Weather is something we can’t control,” he said. “Playing good cricket is the only thing in our control. We have similar wickets back home, and we’ve played a lot of cricket here. We are familiar with the conditions.”

The India–Pakistan rivalry has been a recurring feature of recent World Cups. The two teams have found themselves in the same group in each of the last five T20 World Cups and the previous two 50-over World Cups. In T20 World Cup history, they have faced each other eight times, with India winning seven matches, while Pakistan’s lone victory came in 2021.

Suryakumar also responded to comments from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha regarding mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who has been labelled Pakistan’s “trump card”. Tariq’s unconventional bowling action — featuring a noticeable pause before release — has been the subject of debate. The Indian skipper made it clear his side will not be overawed.

“Even if a question is out of the syllabus, you can’t leave it,” Suryakumar remarked with a smile. “He’s a different character, but we can’t surrender to him. We are all very excited.”

Despite two wins so far in the tournament, India’s batting — particularly the middle order — has faced some scrutiny after inconsistent performances against the USA and Namibia. Acknowledging the concerns, Suryakumar admitted the team had not been flawless. “We had a scratchy start; we can’t run away from that fact. There’s no excuse,” he said. “Everyone has played a lot of cricket. Batters should have their own plans on tricky wickets. We started well, had a hiccup, and then covered it well. That’s the beauty of T20 cricket.”

With Abhishek Sharma’s return and a renewed focus on execution, India will look to rise to the occasion as they prepare for yet another high-stakes showdown against Pakistan.