IND vs PAK: Will there be a fresh or used pitch in Colombo for T20 World Cup 2026 clash? Revealed
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The IND vs PAK clash in T20 World Cup 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 15.
The highly awaited T20 World Cup 2026 encounter between India and Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. India boast a favourable record against their arch-rivals in this competition, winning seven out of the eight times they have played against each other.
Both sides have won both their games so far, and are well-placed to make the super eight from the group. India escaped a scare from USA in the opener, after captain Suryakumar Yadav rescued his team from a collapse.
Pakistan meanwhile, got out of jail against Netherlands, from what seemed like a certain defeat. Mistakes from the Dutch side cost them, with Faheem Ashraf emerging as the hero for the Men in Green.
While the outcome of this India vs Pakistan battle is unlikely to affect either team’s qualifying hopes, the recent ongoing tensions between both nations on and off the field, makes this a mouth-watering clash.
IND vs PAK: Will there be a fresh or used pitch in Colombo for T20 World Cup 2026 clash?
One big question leading up to the blockbuster match is, what would be the conditions on offer, and how will the pitch play. It has now been confirmed that the India vs Pakistan match will be played on the same pitch which was used for the Australia-Zimbabwe contest.
Played on February 13, Zimbabwe stunned Australia by successfully defending a target of 169. Batting proved extremely difficult against slower balls and off-pace deliveries, indicating the likely game plan both Indian and Pakistani bowlers could employ on the all-important day.
Moreover, spinners extracted turn, and were difficult to line up against. Hence a score 160-170 could prove to be a winning score, for the team batting first. A low-scoring epic might be on the cards, meaning both teams must play their best cricket to emerge victorious.
Will the IND vs PAK match be played on a fresh pitch?
No. The game will use the same pitch as the Australia vs Zimbabwe match, which assisted slower bowlers and spinners.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.