India and Pakistan renew their iconic rivalry at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan skipper Agha Salman opted to field first after winning the toss, setting the stage for India’s batting lineup to showcase its depth and adaptability.
India, led by Surya Kumar Yadav, enters the contest with confidence built on consistent performances and a strong record against Pakistan in this format. The return of Abhishek Sharma after illness bolsters the top order, while Jasprit Bumrah spearheads a disciplined bowling attack.
With both teams at the top of the table, the clash is more than just a group-stage encounter—it’s a battle for supremacy. India’s focus remains on execution over emotion, aiming to assert authority in one of cricket’s most-watched rivalries.
Match officials include Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Illingworth as on-field umpires, with Chris Gaffaney as third umpire and Richard Benjamin Richardson as referee.
**Team Changes**
India made two changes to their playing XI. Opener Abhishek Sharma returned after recovering from illness, while wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav came in for left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. Sanju Samson also missed out.
**India Playing XI:**
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
**Pakistan Playing XI:**
Agha Salman (c), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
