Star India batter Rohit Sharma was on Sunday, February 15, seen embracing former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram ahead of the marquee T20 World Cup clash in Colombo. The duo were spotted exchanging a warm
hug, handshake and brief chat during the pre-match ceremony, with the heartening moment going viral on social media.
Rohit was in Colombo as a brand ambassador for the T20 World Cup and he made the most of the buzz surrounding cricket’s fiercest rivalry. He spent time with the Indian camp, greeting cricketers and support staff with warm smiles and handshakes, every bit the senior statesman dropping by to wish the team well ahead of the big clash.
The moment that stole the spotlight was his interaction with Akram. Rohit and the Pakistan great were tasked with walking out with the T20 World Cup trophy ahead of the India vs Pakistan clash, alongside Sanjog Gupta.
Before the formal ceremony at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Rohit and Akram shared a brief chat, posed for pictures and embraced, a moment that sparked mixed reactions among fans online.
Watch the video here:
Legends Hugs, Kids don’t Shake Hands.. #INDvPAK #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FmfZlF12yA
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) February 15, 2026
Not just Rohit, Akram hugged Gupta as well.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan’s supersonic 77 (40b) on a tacky Premadasa track was worth its weight in gold, carrying India to a competitive 175/7 after they were asked to bat first.
It was one of the most entertaining T20I innings by an Indian batter if one factors in the degree of difficulty.
Pakistan needed a strong Power Play segment to chase 176 on this pitch. But Bumrah (2/17) and Hardik Pandya (2/16) jettisoned big-hitting Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha to bowl them out for a paltry 114, reducing the much-anticipated game into a no-contest.
India now lead 8-1 in all T20 World Cup encounters.
