Defending champions India dominated Pakistan with a 61-run victory. Ishan Kishan's explosive 77 set the tone for India's 176. The bowlers then dismantled Pakistan's lineup, restricting them to 114. This win guarantees India's place in the Super Eights. The team displayed strong batting and bowling performances.
The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Both teams started strongly, with India dominating early and Pakistan recovering well. India has historically dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cups and has a strong record at this venue. Rain may affect the game. The match starts at 7 PM IST and will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav copied Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s unusual bowling action during practice before the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match, and the video went viral. Rain forced India to train indoors in Colombo. Tariq’s sidearm action and delayed release have made him a major talking point, despite limited experience. Suryakumar called him an “out of syllabus” challenge and said India is preparing special methods to counter him.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged the team's batting struggles in the T20 World Cup but expressed confidence in tackling Pakistan's unique spinner, Usman Tariq. Despite a scratchy start and vulnerabilities exposed in earlier matches, Yadav emphasized the team's ability to adapt and execute their practice, aiming to overcome pressure and deliver a strong performance against Pakistan.
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh backed India to beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup but warned they must play spinner Usman Tariq carefully. Tariq’s bowling action has sparked controversy despite his strong T20 record. Nayan Mongia also predicted an India win, citing team confidence and Pakistan’s pressure, and backed Hardik Pandya to perform well in big matches.
Following his match-winning knock against Namibia, Ishan Kishan revealed Hardik Pandya's advice to focus on domestic cricket after losing his BCCI contract. Pandya urged Kishan to let his bat do the talking, a sentiment echoed by Pandya's own experience with fan backlash.
The United States achieved a historic 93-run victory over the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup, powered by Saiteja Mukkamalla's brilliant 79 and Harmeet Singh's exceptional 4-wicket haul. Mukkamalla's stellar batting anchored USA's 196/6, while Singh's bowling dismantled the Dutch chase, restricting them to 103. This marks USA's maiden T20I win against the Netherlands.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will feature three group matches on February 13: Australia vs Zimbabwe in Colombo, Canada vs UAE in Delhi, and USA vs Netherlands in Chennai. Australia aim to continue their strong start, while Canada and UAE seek their first win. The Netherlands look competitive, and the USA hope to rebound.
India showcased their destructive batting prowess with blistering half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, posting a formidable 209/9 against Namibia. Kishan's rapid 61 and Pandya's 52 ensured India maintained momentum, extending their record of 200-plus T20I totals to 47.
Rohit Sharma warned India not to take the T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan lightly despite being favourites. Ahead of the February 15 match in Colombo, he said past records and rankings don’t matter and any team can win on its day. Rohit stressed India must play well on the day, as form and history won’t guarantee victory in unpredictable T20 cricket.
The T20 World Cup heats up on February 12 with Sri Lanka facing Oman, Nepal taking on Italy, and India battling Namibia. Sri Lanka, despite Hasaranga's injury, aims for another win. Nepal, buoyed by a near-upset against England, meets Italy. India, after defeating USA, faces Namibia with opener Sharma a doubt, potentially seeing Samson open.