Hardik Pandya demands flat surface ahead of IND vs PAK [Source: X, AFP]The defending champions kick off their T20 World Cup campaign in dream fashion, with Team India storming to back-to-back wins in their opening two matches. After a tricky win against the USA, they registered a convincing victory against Namibia in the last game.But before they step into the next clash against Pakistan, Hardik Pandya made a bold demand. Pointing out the limited batting assistance from the previous two pitches, he called for a flat track to set the stage for a proper showdown. Hardik Pandya demands a flat track ahead of the big clash With two consecutive victories in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Team India has secured early momentum. Batting first in both matches, the Men in Blue leave fans stunned with explosive displays. Facing the USA in Mumbai, they put on a total of 132 runs and posted a total of 209 runs against Namibia in the last match in Delhi. Despite the Indian batters shining with some fiery innings, there were some difficulties too. On Sunday, a big battle awaits Team India as they are all set to face their arch-rivals, Pakistan. Ahead of moving forward to the upcoming matches, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya asked for a bold chance. Reflecting on the batters’ struggle, Hardik Pandya revealed the previous pitch didn’t offer much to the batters and adapting to the situation correctly was the way to the success. Looking ahead to the upcoming matches, he made it clear that the team would prefer flatter tracks to allow the batters to play their natural game. “Two back-to-back pitches haven't been batting-friendly. Wicket was holding a bit today. You just adapt and let your skill-set work. We'd like a little more flatter wickets,” he said. Ishan Kishan aligns with Hardik over pitch conditions After getting dismissed in just 20 runs in the first match against the USA, Ishan Kishan made a fierce bounce back in the second match. Facing Namibia, he showcased his explosive form and played a sublime knock of 61 runs in 24 deliveries. While fans celebrate the power-hitting masterclass, Kishan later opens up about the challenges behind that blazing knock. While talking about the challenges of batting on the track, he agreed with Pandya’s urge. He also credited Namibia’s disciplined bowling attack and admitted that adapting quickly has been the biggest lesson from the first two matches to deliver a complete performance. “In both the wickets, I feel it was a bit different from what we expected to happen. And today, looking at the death overs, when we were not able to regularly hit big sixes, I think we need to also give credit to Namibia bowlers because they were bang on with their yorkers, they were bang on with their slower ones,” Ishan said. “So yeah, it was a good learning. Maybe if some other team is doing the same thing, maybe we can use the crease more or we can do something different, which can irritate the bowler. So it was a good learning in this game and especially I think it was not about our batters not being able to hit sixes, but it was more of them bowling very well in the death overs,” he added. Flat track hopes fade as Colombo tests Team India again After two consecutive victories, the world celebrates Team India’s dominance, but beneath the applause lies a story of grit. Facing the USA in the first game, Indian batters struggled on the Wankhede surface. In the sixth over, they lost three wickets for just one run. And the consecutive blows troubled them in the entire clash. Behind the victory, the struggle remains impossible to ignore. The same story repeated even in the last clash against Namibia. Facing them at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the pitch possessed some challenges, as the pitch was gripping, and the ball was not coming on nicely to the bat. Even with the obstacles, they posted a total of 209 runs, showcasing temperament. As the Men in Blue urged for a flat track, their wishes are likely to be unfulfilled. On February 15, they are all set to face Pakistan in Colombo. At the R. Premadasa Stadium, the surface is set to assist spinners, making it difficult for the batters. With conditions likely to mirror the previous two games, India’s batting unit must rely on patience and temperament to script another success.
