India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026: Match Time, Toss, Live Stream & Complete Preview
With fans’ hearts pounding, cricketing giants India and Pakistan gear up to face off for the fourth time in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group stage. The emotionally charged, globally followed rivalry between these two countries rarely fails to offer a spectacle.
A hair, raising electric atmosphere prevails when these two cricketing colossuses take their bats and balls up against each other, particularly in any ICC event. The duel in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is far from being just another group, stage encounter; it is a game that will attract millions of viewers across the continents.
Match Time & Toss Details
The highly anticipated match will take place at the world, famous R. Premadasa Stadium.
Match start time: 7:00 PM IST
Toss time: 6:30 PM IST
The toss could have a major impact on the IND vs PAK clash. Evening games in Colombo often see dew settling in, which usually gives the chasing team a clear advantage. India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha will carefully assess the pitch before deciding whether to bat or bowl in the high-stakes IND vs PAK encounter.
Where to Watch IND vs PAK Live
Fans can watch the game live on the Star Sports channel.
Online viewers can catch the streaming of the match on JioHotstar app and website. Only those who are subscribed will be able to access the stream.
This intense rivalry between the two teams drives broadcasters to expect record-breaking viewership, not only on television but also across digital platforms worldwide.
Weather & Pitch Report
The weather in Colombo is always a main topic. Earlier rain may have caused brief delays, but clear skies now set the stage for the game.
The Premadasa ground offers balanced conditions for both batters and bowlers, especially spinners. If dew comes up in the second innings, bowlers may find it difficult to get a good grip on the ball which could impact the captains decision at the toss.
Given a fair pitch, a suitably competitive score could be between 160 and 180, depending on the exact nature of the conditions.
Rivalry & Recent Background
Matches between India and Pakistan always carry intense emotions that extend far beyond the boundary ropes. The last few meetings in continental tournaments saw lots of dramas, aggression on the field, and very enthusiastic celebrations.
Earlier, it was rumored that Pakistan wouldn’t take part in this game. But, cricket authorities’ talks made sure that the match goes on as planned which did not disappoint the fans.
In ICC tournaments, these India, Pakistan clashes are always extra special occasions as the games even at the group stages have the pressure and intensity of knockout rounds.
Pre, Match Ceremony
The crowd at the ground will be thoroughly entertained by a flashy pre, match show. Presumably, rapper Hanumankind will be there for a live performance that will surely get everyone pumped up.
The Cricket Festival Club wants to give more meaning to the sports evening and aims to turn it into a major sporting event with a lot of noise than just a cricket match.
Predicted Playing XIs
India (Expected XI)
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
India packs a punch going both ways with its highly aggressive batting plus deep tactical bowling line, up. The pace, spin duo offers the team a lot of variations to suit different phases of the game.
Pakistan (Expected XI)
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
The Pakistan team, essentially, has a very strong pace bowling unit that can especially do a lot of damage in the powerplay overs. Giving the home side the early wickets would be a great way of continuing the pressure game against the visitors.
