India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has confirmed that the team is continuing its preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, despite Pakistan threatening to boycott their upcoming match. This key rivalry, often a highlight of global tournaments, is currently in limbo after the Pakistan government asked its team to avoid the February 15 match in Colombo.
Suryakumar Yadav clarifies Pakistan’s potential boycott of T20 World Cup 2026 match
At a captain’s press conference on February 5, 2026, Suryakumar addressed the situation head-on. He stated that India plans to stick to the ICC-approved schedule and has no intention of skipping the much-anticipated match.
“Our mindset is very clear. We haven’t said no to playing them; they are the ones who’ve said no. Our flights are booked, and we are going to Colombo. Our fixtures are ready: first USA, then Canada, and then we are off to Colombo,” he said. He dismissed any speculation about changing their preparation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to fulfill all tournament obligations.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha mentioned that the boycott decision is a government order that goes beyond the players’ control. Suryakumar, however, noted that India will be present at the R. Premadasa Stadium as planned. According to ICC rules, if the Indian team is there for the coin toss and Pakistan does not show up, the match will be forfeited, earning India two points and harming Pakistan’s Net Run Rate (NRR), potentially jeopardizing their chances in the tournament.
India’s strong form and title aspirations
This boycott situation arises while India is considered a leading T20I team globally. Following their successful 2024 World Cup campaign, the team has smoothly transitioned under Suryakumar’s captaincy. India enters this tournament with a remarkable win percentage exceeding 90% for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. With emerging talents like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma performing alongside experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, they are favorites to defend their title.
The matches in Group A are scheduled as follows:
- February 7: vs. USA (Mumbai)
- February 12: vs. Namibia (New Delhi)
- February 15: vs. Pakistan (Colombo)
- February 18: vs. Netherlands (Ahmedabad)
While the February 15 match is a major point of discussion, India remains focused on their immediate objectives. If both teams advance in the tournament, they may face each other again in the knockout rounds, placing Agha’s team in a challenging position. For now, India is prepared to play, leaving any political context with Pakistan.
