🏏ICC Men's T20 W C 2026: Group A, M 27: India vs Pak at Colombo🏏 - Page 4

How's the weather looking?

Colombo remained dry three hours before the match•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

That was the R Premadasa Stadium at 4pm or thereabouts, and things remain more or less the same for now.

Some call it the biggest rivalry. Some say there is no rivalry. Some are just here for the spectacle, while some others are financially very grateful. Whatever it is, no ICC event is complete without it, be it emotionally, financially or otherwise. So here we are. After days of uncertainty about whether this fixture would go ahead, it is inevitably going ahead as India take on Pakistan in Colombo. Hello and welcome to our coverage of Match 27 of the tournament. The stage is set at the R Premadasa Stadium and the rain gods have hopefully gotten the memo. There were reports of potential interruptions during the game due to the weather, but so far it's all clear. Over to the teams to put on a show, with or without the handshakes.

The Usman Tariq pause

How influential will this man be tonight?

Everyone has had their say about Usman Tariq's unique action, and Andrew Fidel Fernando suggests he could be a key player tonight:

Whatever the case, this paused Usman Tariq - who stands poised and still in his load-up, left knee raised, elbows cocked, fingers squeezing tightly on the ball - has this week become the pole upon which the India-Pakistan universe spins. Almost everyone has had their say: analysts, commentators, youtubers, comedians, social-media trolls, long-term broadcasters, writers. Because a Pakistan-India match must have the overspun attendant conversation, and because the cricketing facts of this rivalry's importance are so thin on the ground, the guy with the unusual action has put at its centre.

"Hello from Colombo! It's overcast, it's humid, but most importantly, it's been dry all day. Sun peaked out for a little bit but it's back to being overcast and the lights have been on for a while. The gates opened at 3pm, so the fans have been trickling in since then. There's heavy, heavy security outside, with as many as 2000 police personnel on duty. There's also military checkpoints around and heard from a few locals how they barely remember anything like this at the venue."

Tactical match-ups that could shape the fate of the game

It will be 11 vs 11 on Sunday, but the result could hinge on these four one-on-ones:

• Bumrah vs Farhan: Will it go viral again?
• Shaheen vs Abhishek: Who will win the first over?
• Ayub vs Kishan: Spin in the powerplay?
• Abrar vs Suryakumar: the tussle for middle-overs control

India have a 7-1 head-to-head win-loss record against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup. But Pakistan's recent form, and the last three T20 World Cup meetings between these teams, give them reason to feel hopeful.

Over their last three T20 World Cup meetings, Pakistan have a better collective batting average than India (28.26 vs 18.69) and have scored marginally quicker too (7.33 per over vs 7.28). Pakistan's bowlers have taken 21 wickets to India's 15. On net run rate, there's a pretty clear winner.

It doesn't matter, of course. India won two of those three games, and a slew of others in between. They go into Sunday's game with a better side. But Pakistan have reason to believe they can beat India.

Hardik Pandya - India's point of difference in every avatar

Hardik Pandya during the pre-match warm-ups•AFP/Getty Images

In a video game, Hardik Pandya would be a character with many avatars.

The current one - a 32-year-old veteran at this T20 World Cup - has already slammed a 28-ball 52 as India scored 209 against Namibia despite the pitch. He also opened the bowling, finished with 2 for 21, and was Player of the Match. Still, in this India set-up, Hardik has been at the periphery of the spotlight. Newer-age players like Ishan Kishan - a blistering 61 in the same match - and Varun Chakravarthy - 3 for 7 with his mystery spin - have taken the headlines instead.

However, against Pakistan on a big stage, Pandya often brings that final boss aura, writes Abhijato Sensarma.

Wishing this to rain and wash out.🤲

In terms of qualification, there's not a whole lot riding on this match. Both teams are unbeaten after playing two games each, and a loss won't be the end of the world. But a win would mean the world to those who follow and ride the emotion of every boundary that is scored, and every wicket that is taken. The last time these two teams met was in the Asia Cup where India won all three matches against Pakistan, including the final. Each of those contests were emotionally charged, with players from both teams crossing the line at different moments and getting sanctioned for it. The onfield action was competitive as well, with Pakistan getting better and better with each passing game, although they just couldn't find a way to get over the line. It was the same story in Melbourne and in New York, where India found ways to come from behind and clinch victory from the jaws of defeat. It's clear where the psychological edge lies. You already must be aware of numbers like 7-1 and 13-3 which have been generously tossed around leading into this game.

Abhishek Sharma will return for India after missing the previous game due to a stomach issue. He was doing some visualisation on the pitch, Pratyush says, so it's pretty much confirmed he's playing. There will also be a temptation to play an extra spinner in place of a seamer. Kuldeep Yadav has an excellent record against Pakistan and will also enjoy the conditions in Colombo. Pakistan, on the other hand, are likely to stick with the combination they played against USA which included five spinners. One of those five spinners has been in the spotlight for the novelty of his action.