India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in their third group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, but the blockbuster encounter could be heavily impacted by rain and adverse weather conditions.
The rivalry, often dubbed cricket’s biggest spectacle, carries massive stakes this time. Both teams have won their first two matches and are tied on four points, meaning a win would all but seal a Super 8 berth.
Historically, India have dominated the rivalry in the shortest format, winning 13 of the 16 T20Is between the two sides. In T20 World Cups, India boasts a commanding 7-1 head-to-head record against Pakistan.
Weather Could Play Spoilsport in Colombo
The weather in Colombo is expected to play a decisive role in the contest. According to Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology, the city is likely to experience showers or thundershowers after 2:00 PM local time, with rain chances peaking around match time.
Colombo is expected to record a high of 34°C and a low of 24°C, with humidity levels ranging between 85% and 50%. Forecasts suggest warm and humid conditions with a strong possibility of passing showers and afternoon thunderstorms.
Rain is particularly expected between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM IST, raising concerns over interruptions or a shortened match. With no reserve day scheduled for group-stage matches, a washout would see both teams share one point each.
At the moment, the conditions at the stadium are overcast and windy, with dark clouds hovering over Colombo. However, there is no rain currently, and floodlights are already on at the venue.
High stakes for Super 8 Qualification
The winner of the India vs Pakistan clash will clinch qualification for the Super 8 stage, while the loser will need to win their final group match to guarantee progression.
India enter the contest on the back of wins against the USA and Namibia, while Pakistan defeated the Netherlands and the USA in their opening two fixtures.
Suryakumar Yadav’s India sit atop Group A with a Net Run Rate of +3.050, while Pakistan are second with an NRR of +0.932.
Team news and likely line-up changes
India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that opener Abhishek Sharma will return to the playing XI after missing the Namibia match due to illness. He also hinted at Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion, making a cheeky remark at the press conference:
“Do you want him to play? Okay then he will play.”
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Squads
India:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.
Pakistan:
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mizra, Khawaja Nafay (wk).