India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will lock horns with Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, in Match 27 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The high-voltage Group A clash between the two neighbouring nations will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.
Team India defeated the United States of America (USA) by 29 runs and secured a 93-run victory over Namibia to move to the top of the table. The Men in Blue have looked ominous, with strong batting form and Jasprit Bumrah leading a lethal bowling attack.
On the other hand, Pakistan beat the Netherlands by three wickets in a thriller before registering a convincing 32-run win over the USA. Their batting remains a concern against a quality Indian attack. A win in this match would seal the top spot in Group A.
This article provides a detailed preview of the IND vs PAK Match No. 27, covering the pitch report, weather forecast, head-to-head record, probable playing XIs, and live streaming details.
IND vs PAK Match No. 27 Preview:
Date and Venue:
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the high-voltage Group A clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday, February 15.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.
IND vs PAK Probable XIs:
India are likely to field their strongest XI for the match. Abhishek Sharma, who was rested for the match against Namibia, might return to the lineup after recovering from a stomach bug. The Men in Blue might consider including Kuldeep Yadav for the spin-friendly conditions.
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
Pakistan are expected to continue with four specialist spinners, with Saim Ayub as a part-time option. In their previous match against the USA, Pakistan played just one specialist pacer, Shaheen Afridi, and a similar strategy could be followed again for this encounter.
Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
IND vs PAK Key Battles
Abhishek Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi:
One of the most exciting contests in the IND vs PAK clash will be between Abhishek Sharma and Shaheen Afridi at the top of the innings. Abhishek plays with an attacking mindset and looks to score quickly from the first over.
The left-handed batter has scored 1,297 runs at a strike rate of 194.45. He recently became the second-fastest Indian to reach 1,000 runs in the format. His aggressive style puts pressure on bowlers but also carries risk.
Shaheen Afridi is known for striking early with the new ball. He has taken 129 wickets in his career and has picked up a wicket in the first over 25 times in 75 innings. If Shaheen gets movement in Colombo, Abhishek’s attacking approach could be tested in the powerplay.
Suryakumar Yadav vs Usman Tariq:
A key contest to watch will be between Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq. Suryakumar, known for his ability to control the field and dominate spin, scored an unbeaten 84 against the USA. He has 3,114 career runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 165.64.
Usman Tariq, however, has made an impressive start to his international career. The spinner has taken 11 wickets in just four matches at an average of 7.90, using his unusual pause-and-deliver action to trouble batters.
On the turning surface at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Suryakumar could play a major role by reading Tariq’s variations in deciding whether India settle for a par total or push well beyond it.
Babar Azam vs Jasprit Bumrah:
A major battle to watch will be between Babar Azam and Jasprit Bumrah. Babar is the backbone of Pakistan’s batting and usually plays the role of anchoring the innings, but he has often struggled against Bumrah’s pace and accuracy.
Bumrah has returned to the side in strong form and is bowling with pace, control, and deadly yorkers. For Pakistan to stay competitive, Babar will need to spend time at the crease. This contest could play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the India vs Pakistan clash.
Hardik Pandya vs Shadab Khan:
The contest between Hardik Pandya and Shadab Khan could decide the middle overs of the match. Hardik has scored over 2,000 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 144.27. In the death overs, his scoring rate often goes close to 200, which puts bowlers under heavy pressure.
Shadab Khan will have a key role for Pakistan during this phase. The leg-spinner has taken 118 T20I wickets and uses his googly to slow down big hitters. If Shadab can control Hardik in the middle overs, Pakistan can limit the damage. If Hardik gets going, India could add crucial runs at the end.
IND vs PAK Key Players:
India: Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma.
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub.
IND vs PAK Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast:
TV Rights in India: Star Sports Network holds the television broadcast rights for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Live Streaming Platform in India: The matches will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website. A subscription is required for online viewing.
When will the match take place? The match will be played on Sunday, February 15.
Where will the match be played? The game will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
How to watch the live telecast of the India vs Pakistan match on television? Fans can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network channels.
How to live stream the match between India and Pakistan on mobile online? The match can be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website with a valid subscription.
IND vs PAK Weather Report of Colombo:
The weather in Colombo on February 15 is expected to be warm and humid, with temperatures around 28°C during the match. While the forecast is mostly clear with only a 25% chance of rain, heavy dew is expected to set in during the second innings.
IND vs PAK Pitch Report of Colombo:
The pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium traditionally assists spinners, with the ball gripping the surface as the game progresses. The average first-innings score in T20s at the venue is 143, while the second-innings average drops to 128.
However, due to the evening dew factor, the surface is likely to skid on later, making chasing easier. The captain winning the toss is expected to bowl first.
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Records:
| Stats | Matches | IND Won | PAK Won | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| In T20 World Cups | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| In Sri Lanka | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
India and Pakistan have played 16 T20 Internationals against each other so far. The Men in Blue have secured 13 wins, while Pakistan have managed only three victories. There has been one tied game during the 2007 World Cup, where India famously won via a bowl-out.
India also have a clear edge in ICC tournaments, holding a 7-1 record against their neighbours. While India will enter as the statistically stronger side, Pakistan remain capable of turning the tables on their day.
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Records: Last Five Matches
In the last five T20Is played between 2022 and 2025, India have won all five matches. The most recent encounter took place on September 28, 2025, where India secured a comfortable five-wicket victory in Dubai.
Before that, India defeated Pakistan in both the group stage and Super Six rounds of the Asia Cup 2025. They also registered a six-run win in New York during the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan’s last win against India in this format came in the Asia Cup in September 2022.
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Records – Result of the last 5 games:
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India won by 5 wickets in Dubai on Sep 28, 2025
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India won by 6 wickets in Dubai on Sep 21, 2025
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India won by 7 wickets in Dubai on Sep 14, 2025
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India won by 6 runs in New York on Jun 9, 2024
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India won by 4 wickets in Melbourne on Oct 23, 2022
IND vs PAK – Conclusion:
India will head into the high-profile clash with strong confidence after convincing wins over the USA and Namibia. The side looks well settled, with both batting and bowling clicking at the right time. They will back their powerful batting unit to handle the spin-friendly conditions in Colombo.
Pakistan will come into the match with momentum from their victory over the USA. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq could trouble India’s middle order. However, their chances will depend heavily on how their top order handles the new-ball threat from Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Also read: Abhishek Sharma ruled out of India vs Pakistan match? Official medical bulletin issued
