India and Pakistan faced off three times in the 2025 Asia Cup. In the current T20 World Cup, they met once during the group stage at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, won the toss and chose to bowl first. Ishan Kishan delivered an impressive performance, scoring 77 runs off 40 balls. However, other Indian players had difficulty with the challenging pitch, especially against the spin bowlers. Ultimately, Shivam Dube played an important role, helping India to a total of 175/7 after 20 overs.
In the second innings, Hardik Pandya started with a wicket-maiden, followed by Jasprit Bumrah, who took two wickets in the next over. This set a grim tone for Pakistan. Despite efforts from Usman Khan and Shaheen Afridi, the team was all out for 114 in 18 overs, losing by 61 runs.
How Can India and Pakistan Meet Again in T20 World Cup 2026?
For India and Pakistan to face each other again in the tournament, Pakistan must qualify for the next round. India has already advanced to the Super 8s after winning three consecutive matches, with one left to play against the Netherlands on February 18. Pakistan needs to win against Namibia in their final group match to secure their spot.
If Pakistan qualifies, they will finish second in Group A, placing them in a different group during the Super 8s. Pakistan will then compete against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka, while India will face the West Indies, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
If both teams come out on top in their respective groups, they will not meet in the semi-finals, but they could meet in the final on March 8 if they win their semi-final matches.
If India finishes first in their group and Pakistan second, or the other way around, they will face each other in the semi-finals.
