The India vs Pakistan showdown in the T20 World Cup remains cricket's ultimate blockbuster. For the 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the marquee Group A clash is set for February 15 at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav and fresh off their 2024 triumph, arrive with momentum from strong group-stage wins and a balanced squad. Pakistan, under Salman Agha, carry the weight of expectations amid recent form fluctuations but possesses the ability to spring surprises.
The head-to-head record favours India heavily in World Cups, yet Pakistan's lone victory in 2021 keeps the contest alive. With the Premadasa pitch offering turn and variable bounce, this encounter could hinge on key individual battles and tactical
nous.
Babar Azam Record vs India in T20Is
Babar Azam stands as Pakistan's batting linchpin, with 4566 runs in 141 T20Is at an average of 39.36 and strike rate of 128.29, featuring three centuries and 39 fifties. His elegant timing and consistency make him a global force, yet his record against India reveals a pattern of promising starts without consistent dominance in crunch games.
Across seven T20Is vs India, Babar has 192 runs at 32.00 average and 115.66 strike rate. His career-best against them is the unbeaten 68 off 52 balls in the 2021 T20 World Cup, powering Pakistan to a 10-wicket win, their only World Cup victory over India, with six fours and two sixes in a composed chase. He replicated form with 68 in the 2022 Asia Cup, but Pakistan lost.
In the 2022 World Cup, he fell for a duck to Arshdeep Singh. The 2024 World Cup brought 13 off 10 in a low chase defeat. In the 2025 Asia Cup, scores of 44 off 35 and 21 off 18 showed starts without conversion. Overall, 18 fours and three sixes reflect caution, with a dot-ball rate near 40% against India's pace-spin mix.
How has Babar Azam fared?
Babar averages 28.50 vs pace (strike rate 110), dismissed multiple times by Bumrah and Arshdeep, while spin yields better numbers (average 40, strike rate 125). In World Cups, 81 runs at 27.00 average and 105.19 strike rate lack a fifty post-2021. Despite this, his leadership and ability to anchor innings could exploit Colombo's conditions, where first-innings totals average around 150.
He will have a different role in this encounter though against India, as the Pakistan batter is set to bat at no. 4, a newly implemented role for him.
