Key points
- Showers reported near toss time
- High humidity and heavy cloud cover
- Dew could impact bowlers later
COLOMBO: Anticipation is building ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter between arch-rivals Pakistan and India at the R. Premadasa Stadium. However, weather conditions may influence proceedings in what promises to be a high-intensity contest.
Rain has been forecast in the hours leading up to the match, raising concerns over possible interruptions. Between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM local time, persistent showers were reported around the venue. At 4:00 PM, light rain fell with temperatures touching 29°C, though it felt warmer at 31°C due to humidity. Cloud cover was heavy at 94%, creating gloomy conditions over the ground.
Humidity levels stood at 70%, with a dew point of 23°C, contributing to muggy surroundings. Winds from the north-northeast were recorded at 15 km/h, with gusts up to 26 km/h — factors that could aid seam bowlers in the early overs. Approximately 0.7 mm of rainfall had been registered by that time.
By 5:00 PM, showers intensified, with 2.5 mm of rain recorded during the hour. Temperatures dipped slightly to 28°C, while humidity climbed to 79%. Visibility also reduced as cloud cover thickened.
For the scheduled match window between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, cloudy and humid conditions are expected to persist. Temperatures are forecast between 26–27°C, though it may feel warmer due to humidity nearing 81%. Dew could play a significant role later in the evening, potentially affecting bowlers’ grip and fielding standards.
Both teams enter the clash unbeaten in the group stage. Historically, India hold a dominant 13-3 advantage over Pakistan in T20Is, including a 6-1 lead in T20 World Cup meetings.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
