Pakistan Opt to Bowl as India, Pakistan Clash in High-Stakes Group A T20 World Cup Encounter

Colombo, Feb 15: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bowl first against arch-rivals India in a high-voltage Group A match of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday. As is often the case in intense India–Pakistan encounters, the toss ceremony passed without the customary handshake between the two captains, underlining the rivalry and pressure surrounding the fixture.

Both teams entered the contest unbeaten in Group A, adding further significance to the clash. India sat atop the group standings due to a superior net run rate, having recovered from a shaky start to defeat the United States of America in Mumbai before registering a comprehensive win over Namibia in New Delhi. Pakistan, meanwhile, have been based in Colombo throughout the tournament. They scraped past the Netherlands in their opener before putting in a more convincing performance to beat the USA in their second outing.

Defending champions India made two notable changes to their playing XI for the marquee clash. Fit-again Abhishek Sharma and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned to the side, replacing Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh. Abhishek had missed the previous match after being hospitalised in New Delhi due to a stomach infection but was cleared to play after making a full recovery.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said his team was prepared for the magnitude of the occasion despite Pakistan opting to bowl. “We were looking to bat first. We’ve seen the results here and we’ve batted in the last two games and won both by defending. We didn’t want to change much,” he said. Acknowledging the pressure of an India–Pakistan match, Suryakumar added that staying present and trusting one’s skills was crucial. “These games are always high stakes, but you need to focus on what you want to do and put your A game forward,” he remarked.

Pakistan, on the other hand, went in with an unchanged XI, backing the combination that had delivered in their previous outings. Explaining his decision to bowl first, Salman Ali Agha pointed to the nature of the pitch. “It looks a bit tacky and we feel it will assist the bowlers in the first few overs. That’s why we want to use it early,” he said, adding that the Premadasa surface was slower and the ground larger compared to Sharjah Cricket Stadium, where many players are accustomed to playing.

History has largely favoured India in Men’s T20 World Cup encounters between the two sides. India have won seven of their eight meetings in the tournament, with Pakistan’s lone victory coming in 2021 when openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan powered a memorable 10-wicket win in Dubai. Interestingly, all three World Cup matches played at the Premadasa Stadium have been won by teams batting first, a statistic that added intrigue to Pakistan’s decision at the toss.

In his pitch report, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said fears of rain interrupting play had eased, with conditions holding steady. He noted that the straight boundary measured around 84 metres, while the square boundaries ranged between 70 and 74 metres, making placement and running between the wickets vital.

Recent matches at the venue have tended to favour bowlers, with players like Blessing Muzarabani and Nathan Ellis picking up four-wicket hauls as batters struggled against hard lengths and cutters gripping on the surface.

With form, history, and conditions all adding layers to the contest, the stage was set for another gripping chapter in the storied rivalry between India and Pakistan.

Team Line-ups – India vs Pakistan

(Group A, 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, Colombo)

India Playing XI

• Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper)
• Abhishek Sharma
• Tilak Varma
• Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
• Hardik Pandya
• Shivam Dube
• Rinku Singh
• Axar Patel
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Varun Chakaravarthy
• Jasprit Bumrah

Team balance: India field a strong batting core led by Suryakumar, with finishing depth through Hardik, Dube and Rinku. The bowling attack blends pace and variety, with Bumrah leading the seamers and three quality spin options suited to Colombo conditions.

Pakistan Playing XI

• Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper)
• Saim Ayub
• Salman Ali Agha (captain)
• Babar Azam
• Shadab Khan
• Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Faheem Ashraf
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Usman Tariq
• Abrar Ahmed

Team balance: Pakistan rely on a pace–spin mix, with Shaheen spearheading the fast bowling and Abrar, Shadab and Nawaz offering control and wicket-taking options on a slower surface. The batting revolves around Babar Azam, supported by aggressive openers and all-round depth.