IND vs PAK Form Guide: Who’s Hot, Who’s Under Pressure

India versus Pakistan always has a lot going for it, but this match has a good, clear sporting point: each team is still winning, each team believes it has worked out how to win, and both teams understand that the R Premadasa pitch could change a game in eight overs.

The Group A game is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, with India leading on net run rate and Pakistan close behind. India have beaten USA by 29 runs and Namibia by 93; Pakistan have won against the Netherlands by three wickets, then beat USA by 32.

India’s form seems more forceful, as their victories have been more convincing, and their bowling attack has already proven it can stop a chase which has started quickly. Pakistan’s form is a little different; they came through a very close finish, then replied with a bigger score – and that can make a team much stronger, quickly.

Will Pakistan’s spin bowling, with the mystery around Usman Tariq, slow India’s middle overs down enough to turn this into a struggle at the end?

The recent results are clear on paper, but the pressure is more about what people expect: India’s top batting order must choose the correct times to score on a slow pitch, and Pakistan’s more experienced batters need to keep the innings going when the ball is turning.

In Detail

The match setting: Colombo and slow pitch

Premadasa usually makes teams work for boundaries. Reports about this match suggest a pitch which has been used before, and will play slowly, with spin in the middle overs deciding the game.

This changes how you look at form. A batter scoring at 160 in Mumbai could appear poor if they can’t turn the ball against spin in Colombo, and a bowler who relies on fast, hard lengths could be useless if the cutter doesn’t bounce. The side which makes fewer dot balls will usually win here, even in a very important game.

Pay attention to what teams try to do in the powerplay, but don’t give it too much importance. On this ground, a score of 55-2 can still end at 155, and a score of 40-2 can still end at 175 if a team keeps wickets for a final burst of scoring.

India’s current form: two wins

India’s unbeaten run has already shown it can do different things. Against USA at Wankhede, they were 161/9, then defended that score with control, with Suryakumar Yadav’s 84 not out from 49 balls doing most of the work as Player of the Match.

Against Namibia in Delhi, India scored 209/9 and then bowled Namibia out for 116 in 18.2 overs, winning by 93 runs. Ishan Kishan’s 61 from 24 balls set the pace at the start, and Hardik Pandya was Player of the Match in a game where India’s bowling attack kept finding ways to end partnerships.

This is a good sign before the Pakistan game: India can win after losing wickets, and they can win by completely beating an opponent. The problem is that a Colombo pitch asks for patience, and India’s batting is made to attack.

India: who is doing well at the moment

Suryakumar Yadav is the obvious story. That 84 not out against USA wasn’t just a quick score; it was an innings which took early damage and still finished with a faster rate of scoring.

Ishan Kishan seems to be in good form for the powerplay job. A 61 from 24 balls against Namibia is a clear signal that his bat speed is back, and the fact it came in a World Cup game matters for his confidence.

Hardik Pandya is judging the bowling well. His Player of the Match in the Namibia game suggests the kind of all-round effect India like from him: bowl a few overs of pace, change speed with the bat, and still finish off a chase or defend a total.

Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel are at the centre of the Colombo plan. India’s wins in the tournament have already shown they can defend totals by slowing the pace in the middle, and that’s exactly the part of the game Pakistan will want to win.

India: who is under pressure

Sanju Samson is the name people keep mentioning in talks about the team, because India’s team can change depending on the pitch and the bowlers. There is talk of changes to India’s XI for this game, which is usually a sign that one or two places in the team are open.

The top order’s shot choices are the bigger problem than any one player. On a pitch expected to turn, early slog-sweeps and hard, straight-bat shots can bring midwicket and long-on into play, and Pakistan’s bowlers will set traps for exactly that.

Abhishek Sharma’s fitness and form is a side-story worth following. He was a major force in India’s recent home T20I, and reports before this match have said his readiness is being discussed. Even if he plays, being in good form after a slight injury is never certain.

Pakistan’s current form: surviving a scare

In their opening game at Colombo versus the Netherlands, Pakistan got to 148 – though it was close, they won with three wickets and three balls remaining. Faheem Ashraf ended it with 29 not out from 11 balls; that sort of recovery can really establish a tournament for a team.

After that they were more convincing against the USA – 190/9, then holding USA to 158/8 for a win by 32 runs. Sahibzada Farhan was Man of the Match for his 73 off 41.

This is significant, as Pakistan’s strongest T20 teams generally possess a strong, steady innings, and a period of bowling which really controls the opposition. They have already displayed both of these within seven days.

Pakistan: who is playing well

Sahibzada Farhan is in excellent form. A 73 off 41 in a World Cup match demonstrates he can manage the rate of scoring without carelessly giving away his wicket. With India likely to use spin bowlers early, Pakistan require a top-order player who can keep the innings stable, while still scoring runs.

Faheem Ashraf is in the “impact overs” area. He didn’t just complete a chase against the Netherlands; he did it quickly enough to beat any pressure, and keep Pakistan’s net run rate good. That is a useful role should this match go to overs 17 to 20.

Salman Ali Agha has been vital to Pakistan’s recent white-ball form. During the recent Australia tour of Pakistan, he was excellent in Lahore in the second T20I, making 76 off 40 in a 198/5 total as Pakistan won by 90 runs. That sort of form, plus his captaincy duties, makes him an important emotional indicator for Pakistan in Colombo.

Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed can determine the middle overs. Pakistan’s wins in the last few weeks have depended on spin restricting the chase, and India’s batting has enough left and right-handed players that captains are tempted to bowl a spinner “one over too many”. Pakistan need these two to bowl the right lengths, and not attempt to take wickets with loose deliveries.

Pakistan: who is facing pressure

Babar Azam has a different sort of pressure in this match. He doesn’t need to play as a finisher; he needs to be sure Pakistan aren’t 35/3, because the ball is gripping and India see an opportunity. Against the Netherlands he made 15 from 18 in a chase which became difficult, and that is exactly what India will attempt to force him back into.

The new-ball pair’s control is a quiet area of concern. India’s early overs are based around boundaries from Kishan and a fast scoring rate from the top, and a couple of over-pitched deliveries can undo six overs of good work. Pakistan’s fast bowlers don’t require brilliance; they need a plan which holds for 24 balls.

Usman Tariq’s assessment is in the background. He’s been spoken of as a major asset, with discussion about his bowling action and his part in this game. This could sharpen his concentration, but it could add distraction, particularly if the first over goes for 12.

The key contests that decide

1. India’s middle overs vs Pakistan’s spin attack India’s best innings so far have involved clean hitting and quick acceleration. Pakistan’s route is to slow things down between overs 7 and 15, using Shadab, Nawaz, Abrar and Tariq in combinations which compel India to hit against the spin towards the longer boundary. If India keep wickets, they can still reach 175 on this ground. If they lose two in that period, 155 becomes a catchable score, and Pakistan’s confidence will quickly increase.
2. Pakistan’s powerplay vs India’s first-change pressure Pakistan have been at their best when the top order gives them a base for totals of 190, as in the USA match. India, however, have already shown they can defend after being stretched, and their bowling is structured to apply pressure through variety, not just speed. If Pakistan go hard early and lose two wickets, India’s spin bowlers can increase the pressure. If Pakistan get to 55 for one wicket, the Indian captain will need to work out whether to save Jasprit Bumrah for the end of the innings, or use him to try to get a breakthrough.
3. The Finish: Rinku, Hardik, and Dube against Faheem and Shadab. The last overs in India versus Pakistan matches are seldom straightforward. India have batsmen who can send full-length balls over the boundary, however Premadasa Stadium also needs batsmen to place the ball; a pair of well-taken twos might be worth more than a risky hit. Pakistan’s finishing is more about what each player does: Faheem Ashraf can change the direction of a chase, Shadab Khan can get twelve runs from an over by clever use of angles, and Shaheen Shah Afridi can add a few runs if it’s close. The side that stays cool and doesn’t attempt impossible shots, generally wins the last five overs.

Choices and health that might change things.

Talk about India’s likely eleven has included several choices for the top of the batting order and flexible batting positions – which shows India are ready to react to what the pitch is like at the last moment.

Abhishek Sharma being said to be fit to play makes things more complex: should he play, India can start quicker, and keep Tilak Varma or another left-handed batsman as a way to deal with legspin.

Pakistan’s likely eleven suggests they plan to use a lot of spin, and also have enough batting to get through a small collapse. The problem is the fielding and running between the wickets: on slow pitches, games are won and lost on these, and that’s where the pressure comes from.

A quick guide to current form:

One small extra point:

Pressure in India versus Pakistan is not just about runs and wickets. It’s the first catch dropped, the first bad effort in the field on a slow outfield, the first easy wicket given to spin. It’s even the things happening off the pitch that players try to ignore, such as the stories about handshakes that come up before these matches.

The side that is most calm in the first ten overs usually sets the pattern. If the match turns into a struggle, both sides have shown they can get through it, which means the first moment of panic becomes very important.

Weather watch:

The weather in Colombo has been talked about, with rain possible and clear effects on points and net run rate. A game with fewer overs makes powerplay batsmen even more valuable and can ruin bowling plans.

If overs are lost, India’s batting depth and Pakistan’s spin options will both still be useful, but there will be very little room for one bad over.