The ongoing deadlock over the India-Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has ended. This high-voltage match will take place on February 15 itself, which will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Pakistan team is in Colombo but it has not played on this ground yet. The Pakistan team has played both its matches at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. Like India, R Premadasa’s ground will be new for him too but due to playing in Colombo itself, he has more advantage.
This advantage will be similar to what Team India had during the Champions Trophy 2025. The Indian team played all its matches in Dubai, which gave it an opportunity to have more and more spinners in its squad. There were two left arm spinners in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel, while Washington Sundar was in the squad as an off spinner. Not only this, the team had deadly weapons like mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty and left arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Pakistan also has a similar variety of spinners in its T20 World Cup squad.
Also read: ‘India is being run by 4 Gujaratis’ Shahid Afridi spits venom before IND vs PAK match
Pak team has better balance
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup has been designed in such a way that 4-4 spinners can field simultaneously. Of these, 3 are all-rounders. Apart from opening, Saim Ayub can also show amazing spin. He proved his spin bowling skills in the Asia Cup last year. Saim Ayub is an expert in bowling off-spin and legbreak googlies.
Apart from them, there is also left arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz and leg spinner Shadab Khan, who are in good form with the ball as well as the bat. Pakistan also has two unknown first-class spinners in Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq. However, only one of these two can play. There is a possibility that Pakistan team management will give a chance to Usman Tariq against India.
Also read: How can Afghanistan qualify for Super-8? This is the equation
What will be India’s combination?
Team India can also play 4 spinners in R Premadasa but for this it will have to make a lot of changes in the playing XI. There is every possibility of fielding Kuldeep Yadav by fielding a fast bowler. Washington Sundar may also get a chance. His entry into the playing XI means that one of Shivam Dubey and Rinku Singh will have to be dropped.
How effective are the spinners in R Premadasa?
The spinner is at the top in terms of taking most wickets in T20 International on this ground. Sri Lankan leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is at number-1 with 24 wickets in 12 matches. Yuzvendra Chahal and Mahish Theekshana have also taken 10 or more wickets on this ground. There is variety in Pakistan’s spin attack but the problem is that no one has the experience of playing on this ground. This can be a big challenge for them.
Will India get the benefit of playing more matches?
India and Pakistan have almost the same T20I record at the R Premadasa Stadium. However, compared to Pakistan, Team India has played more than twice as many matches. The Indian team has played 15 matches on this ground between 2009 and 2021, out of which it has won 11. Pakistan, on the other hand, last played its T20I match at the R Premadasa Stadium 11 years ago. He has won 5 out of 7 matches played here. Another interesting thing is that none of the players in the current Pakistan squad have the experience of playing on this ground, due to which they may have to suffer losses.
Indian taking most T20I wickets in R Premadasa
- Yuzvendra Chahal – 12 wickets (7 innings)
- Lakshmipathy Balaji – 9 wickets (4 innings)
- Washington Sundar – 8 wickets (5 innings)
- Yuvraj Singh – 8 wickets (5 innings)
- Jaydev Unadkat – 7 wickets (4 innings)
Comments are closed.