India team - (Source: AFP)
On Sunday, February 15, India and Pakistan will lock horns at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for Match 27 of the T20 World Cup 2026. The mouth-watering clash is the biggest game of the tournament so far, and the two teams are already sweating hard in the nets.
Notably, India are placed on top of their group with two wins in two matches. The same goes for Pakistan, but they are placed second because of an inferior net run-rate than the Men in Blue.
India vs Pakistan Preview
As per the hybrid model agreed upon by PCB and BCCI, the Indian team have landed in Colombo for their World Cup match. Unfortunately, the weather gods have also come into play, as there is a heavy rain alert on February 15. Therefore, the current forecast can also force India to make changes to their playing XI.
Another major reason that might impact India’s playing XI is the ground size of the R.Premadasa Stadium. Notably, it is one of the biggest grounds in the tournament, and the players are having difficulty piling big totals at the arena. Recently, Australia too struggled against Zimbabwe and suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of the African side.
Shedding light on players’ fitness, India fans have received a massive boost as their star batter Abhishek Sharma, who missed the Namibia match due to an upset stomach, has travelled with the team and might be fit to play the all-important game.
Also, the surface has so far favoured the spinners, so it will be interesting to see any change there from the Suryakumar Yadav-led side. Meanwhile, this article will shed light on India playing XI vs Pakistan.
India Playing XI vs Pakistan- Match 27
Openers and Top Order (Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav)
Abhishek Sharma is most likely to return to the India Playing XI vs Pakistan as he is with the team and has nearly regained full fitness. If he was unfit, then the southpaw wouldn't have had travelled to Colombo.
Therefore, Sanju Samson is all set to be dropped and Sharma is expected to open the innings, but his confidence is under the scanner as he is yet to open his account in this tournament.
Ishan Kishan is in some fine form as the southpaw slammed a quickfire 20-ball fifty against Namibia, becoming the first Indian keeper to score a 50 in T20 World Cup history. Overall, he has 81 runs in two innings.
Tilak Varma, who was the hero with the bat during Asia Cup 2025 final, will have a crucial role to play, given the sticky nature of the wicket. However, he too is yet to get going in the tournament and has just 50 runs in 2 innings.
Shedding light on Suryakumar Yadav, the India skipper has a history of struggle against Pakistan, but this time around the situation is different. SKY is high on confidence after the crucial 84-run knock against USA.
Middle Order and All Rounders ( Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel)
India face an interesting challenge at this point of time. Rinku Singh is struggling for form as the southpaw only has just 7 runs in two matches. Therefore, there are cries of his ouster from the India Playing XI vs Pakistan, but the issue here is that the Men in Blue cannot risk less batting depth against the likes of Pakistan.
Therefore, India are unlikely to make changes to their middle-order and Rinku Singh will retain his place. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, who missed Asia Cup 2025 final, his return is a big boost and he is in sublime form after a fifty against Namibia.
Shivam Dube is yet to fire with the bat, but he is also contributing with the ball, making him the second pace option for India after Hardik Pandya. Therefore, it allows Gautam Gambhir to drop a seamer from the India Playing XI vs Pakistan and go ahead with extra-spinner to suit Sri Lankan conditions.
Axar Patel has failed with the bat with just 14 runs in two innings, but he has four wickets in two innings. Further, his style of bowling will help India given the big size of Premadasa Stadium.
Bowlers (Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy)
In bowling, the Men in Blue are expected to make one change in the India Playing XI vs Pakistan, which is to bench Arshdeep Singh for Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm seamer has done nothing wrong, but the Men in Blue will have to go ahead with three-spinners to adhere to the demands of the condition in Sri Lanka.
Rest, Jasprit Bumrah will be the sole premier bowler, who needs no introduction. The right-arm seamer will lead the pace attack. He will be assisted in the India Playing XI vs Pakistan by Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep will play his first game of the tournament, while Varun has been India's best bowler so far with four wickets in two innings.
India Playing XI vs Pakistan- Match 27, T20 World Cup 2026: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
.jpg?type=mq "IND vs PAK Head to head")
