Sandip Janee
After a see-saw geopolitical battle involving the governments of Bangladesh, Pakistan and the International Cricket Council (ICC), the marquee India vs Pakistan clash is finally green-lighted to take place in Colombo today.
Winding back the clock, India and Pakistan came to a decision amidst geopolitical tensions to play cricket at neutral cricket venues in ICC events during the 2024-27 rights cycle.
The T20 Cricket World Cup hosted by India & Sri Lanka had the marquee clash headlined for Colombo (Sri Lanka), but things went south when Bangladesh threatened to boycott the T20 World Cup on the back of BCCI’s refusal to let Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rahman participate in the IPL for KKR in 2026. The decision was driven by incidents of mob lynching and violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Pakistan initially showed solidarity with Bangladesh and threatened to boycott the World Cup. Once the boycott negotiations failed with the ICC, the Pakistan government announced a boycott of the marquee clash in Colombo vs India but allowed the players to participate in the tournament.
However, after various meetings involving the key stakeholders, the Pakistan board expectedly announced the backtracking of the decision to boycott the India game on February 9th.
The statement shared by the board read that ‘This decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations”
ICC also released a media statement which said that the game going ahead was in the “best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation”
India’s form guide
India has won both their games in Group A against the USA and Namibia and are table toppers with 4 points and a healthy Net Run Rate (NRR) of +3.050. There have been a few hiccups around the middle-order batting performances and Abhishek Sharma’s fitness.
Pakistan’s form guide
Pakistan has won both their matches and sits just below India with 4 points and a NRR of +0.932. They started tentatively against the Netherlands but have come back strongly against the USA. Spin has been their strength, and they will rely on the 5 spinners to make a match out of it. Basis their spin performances, they start slightly ahead of India in this game.
Game changers to watch-out
India – Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Verma could be key batters to watch out. Abhishek’s explosive start could help India get off a flyer and score quickly before spin comes into play. Tilak Verma’s calm and composed demeanor which led him to a match winning 69* against Pakistan in the Asia cup last year will be key for India in the middle overs.
Varun Chakravarthy will be India’s trump card on this spin friendly wicket, and Kuldeep Yadav (if he gets to play) could be a vital cog in India’s spin attack.
Pakistan – Sahibzada Farhan is Pakistan’s best and in-form batter, and the start he provides will be key to Pakistan’s score. Captain Salman Agha is another batter, who needs to prove a point, and will be key to their run-scoring abilities.
Usman Tariq’s unique bowling action and his wicket taking ability have been the talking point of the cricket fraternity across the world lately. He holds the key to stop the Indian bandwagon in the middle overs. Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub are both excellent spinners and could make a huge difference if they bowl well.
The Catch
There are discussions around the advantage for the Pakistan team due to their preparation in Colombo for the last two weeks, and the fact that all their matches in the World Cup are being played in Colombo.
However, this is their first match at the Premadasa stadium, which negates any advantage that they might have at this point. The Indian team has countered this in the pre-match press conference by stating that pitches in India are similar and they are prepared for this challenge.
Conditions to expect in Colombo
The match will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium (RPS) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ground is a renowned spin haven, and pace-off bowls have been used as weapons by bowlers in all matches played here this World Cup.
There have been three matches played at RPS in this edition, and the teams batting first have won all of them, including the Zimbabwe upset of Australia. Traditionally, batting second has an advantage at this stadium.
The average first-innings score is 161 runs in this tournament (traditionally it is 143 in T20I’s at this venue), and the pitch is likely to be slow and spin-friendly.
Though rain is predicted for the match, the drainage at RPS is very effective, and matches can resume quickly. The chances for a full game are highly likely.
When and where to watch the match
The India vs Pakistan match will be screened on Star Sports (TV) and Jio-Hotstar (Digital) in India, and Prime Video in Australia.
The first ball will be bowled at 7 pm IST/ 12.30 am AEDT
Contributing author: Sandip Janee is a Sydney-based sports marketing professional and Special Correspondent – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for The Australia Today, covering match analysis, fan stories and video content. His deep-rooted passion for cricket and sport has led him to work across major global sporting and consumer brands over the past 14 years.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s personal opinions. The Australia Today is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article. The information, facts, or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of The Australia Today, and The Australia Today News does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
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