It’s good news for Indian fans as Abhishek Sharma is back in the XI for India’s blockbuster T20 World Cup group stage clash against Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2026: Live updates | Scorecard
The batting opener has an impressive record against Pakistan, scoring 110 runs in four T20Is against the arch-rivals at an average of 36.66 and a strike rate of 189.65. His ability to engage the opposition from the outset makes him a valuable asset in high-pressure matches like this one.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, with their captain opting to test the Indian bat under lights. The men in green left with an unchanged XI from their previous game and showed confidence in their winning combination.
Meanwhile, India made two strategic changes to their line-up. Abhishek returns to the top of the order replacing Sanju Samson, while left-armer Kuldeep Yadav comes in for bowler Arshdeep Singh. The inclusion of Kuldeep gives India a sharp bowling attack, clearly designed to take advantage of Colombo’s traditionally spin conditions.
The decision might disappoint Sanju Samson fans who were hoping that their Kerala star would get another opportunity after showing promise in India’s previous match against Namibia. Despite a decent performance, the return of Abhishek confirmed Samson’s relegation back to the bench for this crucial encounter.
Abhishek’s comeback is particularly notable given his recent health issues. As stated earlier, the lefty was admitted to hospital due to a stomach infection after the team’s arrival in the capital. His recovery and availability will be a relief for leading the Indian team as they look to continue their winning momentum in the tournament.
IND vs PAK: PLAYING XI
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmad, Usman Tariq
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 15, 2026