Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief for Team India in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, producing a sensational four-wicket haul in his four-over spell to help India defend their crown and clinch a second consecutive title.
This will be only the second Test meeting between the two teams. In their first encounter in 2018 in Bengaluru, India secured a comprehensive victory by an innings and 262 runs.
Suryakumar Yadav's understanding of match situations, conditions and game management has brought greater awareness and stability to the Indian team in T20 cricket, says Sunil Gavaskar.
The aggressive opener sat out India’s last match against Namibia national cricket team after being hospitalised with a stomach infection.
With a looming threat of rain and global eyeballs locked in, this promises to be the most watched group-stage encounter of the tournament.
India and Pakistan have met eight times in the T20 World Cup so far, with India winning seven of those encounters, while Pakistan have managed just a solitary victory in 2021.
The uncertainty around the high-profile T20 World Cup encounter ended on Monday night after Pakistan confirmed it would take the field at the R Premadasa Stadium, bringing weeks of speculation over a possible boycott to a close.
India, the defending champions led by Suryakumar Yadav, enter the tournament as overwhelming favourites. Yet, even before a ball has been bowled, the event has been overshadowed by diplomatic tension and controversy.
Sooryavanshi brought up his century off just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in Under-19 World Cup history.
Ponting, who led Australia to World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, also backed his former side to make a deep run in the tournament beginning February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
