Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium is electric tonight as India faces Pakistan in one of the most anticipated T20 World Cup 2026 matches. Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and opted to bowl first, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. True to form, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav skipped the traditional handshake, continuing the ‘no handshake’ policy that began during Asia Cup 2025.
Suryakumar reflected post-toss, ‘We wanted to bat first. We’ve won our last two by defending, but we’re not changing what’s working. This game teaches you everything—any team can win on any day.’ He welcomed back Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav to the lineup, signaling India’s intent to dominate.
This encounter marks the first India-Pakistan clash since Operation Sindoor, followed by Asia Cup 2025 where India swept three meetings, including the final trophy win. No handshakes at tosses or post-match, and ruthless victories dubbed ‘Operation White Ball’ by fans. India now aims to extend this streak in T20 World Cup, where they hold a stellar 7-1 record against Pakistan across eight games.
India’s Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan’s Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
As the White Ball operation unfolds, all eyes are on whether India can maintain their unyielding edge in this cricketing rivalry. The no-handshake symbolizes deeper tensions, but on the field, it’s all about supremacy. Stay tuned as the action heats up under Colombo’s lights.