Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his take on the ideal playing combinations for both sides in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 encounter between India and Pakistan. The Group A clash between the arch-rivals will be played at the historic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15. Going by the conditions at the venue, Pathan believes that both teams should feature spin-heavy attacks.
Speaking about the Pakistani side, Pathan reflected on how their slightly underpowered batting unit is complemented by the flurry of spinners they have in their ranks. The cricketer-turned-commentator has advised Pakistan to go without the likes of Fakhar Zaman and pick spin-bowling all-rounders in Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, also utilising them as finishers, in a video on his official YouTube channel.
On the Indian team, the 41-year-old believes that Abhishek Sharma should be good enough to bat against the Men in Green and has also backed Rinku Singh as a finisher, despite the Uttar Pradesh batter failing to make his opportunities count thus far. Pathan believes that keeping Rinku over someone like Washington Sundar will give the much-needed comfort at the death for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side.
While dropping left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, the Baroda-born has suggested picking unorthodox spinner Kuldeep Yadav as a surprise element for Agha Salman & Co. In all, the 2007 T20 World Cup winner wants the Indian team to boast a bowling attack that features Jasprit Bumrah as the frontline pacer and is surrounded by spinners like Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep.
Irfan Pathan’s Playing XIs for India vs Pakistan match in T20 World Cup 2026
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Agha Salman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
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