In the high-octane world of international sports, few events can match the sheer magnitude and emotional intensity of an India-Pakistan cricket match. This Sunday, February 15, 2026, the global cricketing community turns its gaze toward the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as these two arch-rivals collide in a Group A fixture of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Following weeks of diplomatic uncertainty and boycott rumors, the \”Mother of All Rivalries\” is finally set to unfold under the lights, with both teams arriving in Sri Lanka with unblemished records in the tournament so far.
The contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM GMT), a prime-time slot designed to accommodate millions of viewers across the subcontinent and the world. For India, led by the charismatic Suryakumar Yadav, this match represents a chance to solidify their position at the top of the Group A points table following dominant victories over the USA and Namibia. Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Agha, enters the fray with equal momentum, having successfully navigated their opening matches against the Netherlands and the USA. The stakes could not be higher; a win here virtually guarantees a spot in the Super Eight stage and offers immense psychological leverage for the remainder of the competition.
Historically, India has maintained a vice-like grip on this rivalry in the T20 World Cup format. Out of eight previous meetings in the tournament\’s history, the Men in Blue have emerged victorious on seven occasions, including the famous bowl-out win in 2007 and the nail-biting super-over thriller in 2024. Pakistan’s solitary T20 World Cup win against India came in 2021, a 10-wicket drubbing in Dubai that remains a landmark moment for their fans. Overall in T20Is, the head-to-head record also leans heavily in India’s favor, with 13 wins to Pakistan’s 3. However, on the slow and testing surfaces of Colombo, historical stats often take a backseat to real-time tactical ingenuity.
The predicted Playing 11 for India centers on the fitness of explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who missed the previous game due to illness but is expected to return to partner Sanju Samson at the top. This move would likely see Tilak Varma or Rinku Singh shift in the middle order. India’s bowling attack remains their strongest asset, with Jasprit Bumrah leading a unit that will likely feature mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and the left-arm spin of Axar Patel. Pakistan’s lineup will be anchored by the experienced Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, but all eyes will be on their \”trump card\” spinner Usman Tariq, whose unique bowling action has already become the talking point of the tournament.
For fans eager to catch the live action, the broadcast arrangements are more extensive than ever. In India, the match will be televised live on the Star Sports Network, while digital audiences can stream the encounter on the JioHotstar platform in multiple regional languages. In Pakistan, PTV and the Myco app will provide comprehensive coverage. For those in the UK, Sky Sports is the destination, while viewers in the US and Canada can follow the drama on Willow TV. As the groundskeepers at the Premadasa battle a high probability of daytime rain to keep the pitch dry, the world waits for 7:00 PM—the moment when tactical talk ends and the most passionate rivalry in sports begins.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026: Match Date, Time, Venue, Playing 11, Squads, Head-to-Head & Streaming Details
