ISLAMABAD: The ICC has confirmed Pakistan will play India on 15 February at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, ensuring the T20 World Cup’s biggest Group A fixture goes ahead as scheduled. With both sides stacked with match-winners, Sunday’s contest may come down to a few decisive head-to-head duels — the kind that swing a game in two overs, not two hours.
Colombo’s surface adds another layer. Recent World Cup action at Premadasa has shown it can slow down and aid spin, especially as the ball gets older — a trend underlined by Australia’s win over Ireland at the venue on what was described as a spinning pitch. That makes the balance between early pace impact and middle-overs spin control even more critical.
1) Shaheen Shah Afridi vs India’s openers: first six overs, first statement
Pakistan’s most direct route to dominating this match is to win the powerplay with the ball, and Shaheen Shah Afridi is built for exactly that job. He headlines Pakistan’s pace attack in the World Cup squad led by Salman Ali Agha, and his threat is simple: early swing, left-arm angle, and wickets that force a reset.
The subplot on India’s side is selection and readiness at the top. India’s squad is led by Suryakumar Yadav and includes Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan among batting options, but Abhishek has already been rested against Namibia and remains a talking point ahead of Pakistan. If India’s opening combination changes, Shaheen’s opening spell becomes even more influential: one early wicket can drag India into a cautious mode, while a clean start can flip the pressure back onto Pakistan’s middle-overs plans.
2) Jasprit Bumrah vs Pakistan’s finishers: the over everyone holds their breath for
If Pakistan’s early wickets are their dream, India’s is Bumrah at the death. India’s squad build makes it clear he is central to their bowling plan, leading an attack that also includes Arshdeep Singh and a strong spin unit.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have already shown in this tournament how dangerous they can be late in an innings — and how quickly a chase can be rescued. In their opener against the Netherlands, Pakistan were hauled home by Faheem Ashraf, who produced a match-turning late cameo to seal victory. That is the exact phase Bumrah is designed to control.
This match-up matters because Pakistan’s World Cup squad includes multiple late-overs options — Faheem, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan among those who can shift a total in 10–15 balls. If Bumrah nails his yorkers and slower-ball plans, Pakistan can be held below par even after a strong platform. If he misses, Premadasa’s scoreboard pressure can be neutralised in a flash.
3) Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakaravarthy vs Pakistan’s middle order: the squeeze that wins tournaments
Colombo’s conditions make India’s spin pair a potential match-decider. India have Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in their World Cup squad, alongside Axar Patel and Washington Sundar — an attack built to control the middle overs and force mistakes. Varun has already been talked up as a key weapon in this build-up, with Indian media highlighting his confidence heading into the Pakistan clash.
Pakistan’s middle order — anchored by names like Babar Azam and Salman Agha, with Shadab capable of changing tempo — is where the match can either stabilise or collapse. On a surface that can grip, India’s spinners will look to choke Pakistan’s scoring options, turning singles into dots and dots into desperation. Pakistan’s counter is clear: use left-right combinations, take on the shorter boundary when available, and ensure wickets in hand for the last five.
Pakistan’s path is early pace damage and late-overs hitting; India’s is powerplay survival followed by spin control and Bumrah at the death. With Premadasa’s tendency to reward smart bowling through the middle, the team that wins these three match-ups may also win the narrative — and the points — on 15 February.
