Both teams have started their campaigns on a winning note—India brushing aside the USA in Mumbai and Pakistan surviving a scare against the Netherlands in their opener. With the off-field noise finally settling down, all eyes now turn to the 22 yards at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Can the Men in Green break their World Cup jinx against a dominant Indian side, or will the defending champions continue their ruthless run?
India vs Pakistan Match Preview
India enters this contest as the clear favorite. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue have been an unstoppable force, winning nine successive T20 series leading up to this tournament. Their opener against the USA was a clinical display of power hitting and disciplined bowling. The return of Hardik Pandya to full fitness has added massive balance to the side, while Jasprit Bumrah remains the ultimate cheat code in crunch moments.Pakistan, led by Salman Agha, comes into this match with mixed emotions. While their 3-0 series whitewash of Australia at home was a confidence booster, their opening game against the Netherlands exposed a few chinks in their middle order. The biggest challenge for Pakistan will be blocking out the "boycott" noise that has plagued their preparation. However, with match-winners like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, they are the one team capable of turning the tables on their day.
India vs Pakistan Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | India vs Pakistan, Match 27 (Group A) |
| Date | Sunday, February 15, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST (Toss at 6:30 PM) |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
IND vs Pakistan Live Streaming and Broadcast
Here is a region-specific list of broadcasting and live streaming platforms.| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| USA and Canada | Willow TV | Willow.tv |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Prime Video |
| UK | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme | Dialog Play |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports | Myco, Tamasha |
| Middle East | - | ICC.tv |
India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head: T20 Internationals
India holds a dominant historical edge over Pakistan in the shortest format, particularly in World Cup scenarios. India enter the match as one of the tournament favorites - currently defending their T20 World Cup title and boasting a strong recent record across formats. Early analysis put India slightly ahead of Pakistan in win probability, mainly due to depth in batting and bowling.Pakistan, although capable of big performances, have faced off-field challenges with political interference and the boycott debate, which could affect preparation.
| Teams | Matches | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 16 | 13 | 3 |
| Pakistan | 16 | 3 | 13 |
Note: India has won the last four consecutive T20I meetings against Pakistan (including three wins during the 2025 Asia Cup).
India vs Pakistan Predicted Playing XIs
India OverviewIndia is likely to stick to their winning combination. The aggressive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan provides the rapid starts that allow the middle order to settle.
India Probable Playing Squad
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.Pakistan Overview
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, survived a massive scare against the Netherlands, collapsing to 114/7 before scrambling to a win. Their middle-order fragility remains a concern heading into the Colombo clash.
Pakistan Probable Playing Squad
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan / Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad NawazKey Player Battles to Watch
- Suryakumar Yadav vs. Shaheen Afridi: The world’s top-ranked T20 batter against the premier left-arm pacer. Shaheen’s ability to swing the ball back into the right-hander at $145\text{ km/h}$ remains Pakistan's best chance to disrupt India's top order.
- Babar Azam vs. Jasprit Bumrah: Babar remains the anchor of the Pakistani lineup, but he faces his toughest test in Bumrah, whose economy rate and lethal yorkers often stifle Pakistan's scoring in the death overs.
- Hardik Pandya vs. Shadab Khan: The battle of the all-rounders. Pandya has a history of performing against Pakistan in "clutch" moments, while Shadab’s leg-spin will be crucial on the Colombo surface.
Pitch & Conditions: R. Premadasa Stadium
The Colombo track is traditionally a spin-friendly surface.- Early Phase: Expect some movement for pacers like Arshdeep Singh and Naseem Shah under the lights.
- Middle Overs: Spinners (Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Abrar Ahmed) are expected to dictate the tempo.
- The Toss: Dew can be a factor in February, potentially making the ball slippery for the team bowling second.
Key Factors That Could Decide the Match
- Top order performance: Early runs are crucial in T20 against quality bowling
- Death-overs execution: Both sides have potent finishers
- Bowling in the powerplay: Containing aggressive batting early can tilt momentum
The Verdict: Who Will Win?
Prediction: India (65% chance of winning)While Pakistan’s bowling attack is world-class, India’s current psychological advantage and superior batting depth make them the favorites. Pakistan’s recent struggles against Associate nations suggest a lack of consistency that India's disciplined bowling unit led by Bumrah and Arshdeep - is likely to exploit.
Why India might win:
- Defensive Resilience: India has mastered the art of winning low-scoring thrillers (as seen in the 2024 World Cup).
- Spin Arsenal: In Sri Lankan conditions, the duo of Kuldeep and Axar Patel/Sundar offers more control than Pakistan’s current spin options.
Why Pakistan might win:
- The "Unpredictability" Factor: If Shaheen and Naseem Shah pick up 3 wickets in the Powerplay, Pakistan can blow any team away.
- Point to Prove: Amidst the boycott controversy, a win would be a massive statement for Salman Ali Agha’s side.