India on Sunday, 15 February at Colombo’s R. They will face Pakistan in their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 match at the Premadasa Stadium. The focus has shifted to Suryakumar Yadav, as this match holds special importance for him to overcome his poor record against Pakistan and cement his reputation as a leader.
Team India registered a spectacular 93-run win over Namibia on Thursday, 12 February. Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus took four wickets for just 20 runs, putting the Men in Blue under pressure during the middle stages. Suryakumar scored just 12 runs in 13 balls and India scored 209/9 in 20 overs.
India may face a tough spin test against Pakistan. The Men in Green have four specialist spinners in Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan, with Sam Ayub also available as the fifth spin option.
Suryakumar Yadav’s statistics against Pakistan
Suryakumar Yadav has dominated most of the teams in T20 cricket, but Pakistan has continuously been a tough challenge for him. Although he has scored freely against top teams like South Africa and England, his performances against the Men in Green have not matched his usual standards.
Suryakumar has scored only 112 runs in eight T20 innings against Pakistan at an average of 16.00 and strike rate of 113.13, with his best score being 47 not out.
The conflict became evident again during the 2025 Asia Cup. In the two matches against Pakistan, he managed to score just 0 and 1. He holds the record for most 30-plus scores at a strike rate of over 200 for India and he will be keen to correct that on February 15.
| Social class | stats vs pakistan |
|---|---|
| Matchbox | 8 |
| it goes | 112 |
| average | 16 |
| strike rate | 113.13 |
| highest score | 47 |
| 50/100 | 0 / 0 |
Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy record against Pakistan
Questions have been raised over Suryakumar Yadav’s batting record against Pakistan, but his impact as captain has been excellent. Since becoming India’s full-time T20I captain in July 2024, he has led the team with clear direction and strong results.
Under his captaincy, India won the 2025 Asia Cup title. The Men in Blue defeated Pakistan three times in the tournament, including the final.
Suryakumar has demonstrated strong decision making even under pressure. In the opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup against the United States, he pulled India out of trouble at 77/6 and remained unbeaten on 84 to help set up the winning total.
Why this India vs Pakistan match could define their T20 World Cup legacy?
The upcoming India vs Pakistan match could play a major role in shaping Suryakumar Yadav’s T20 World Cup legacy. He has been the world’s top-ranked T20I batsman for years, but his struggles against Pakistan continue to be criticized.
This match takes place amidst huge noise even outside the field. The build-up to the 2026 conflict has seen unusual drama, including Pakistan’s early threat of a boycott. Suryakumar can prove his strength as a leader by delivering victory despite such distractions.
If India loses and Suryakumar fails with the bat, the criticism will become stronger. A win on February 15 could propel him into the top tier of Indian T20 captains. For them this match is not just another game; This is the ultimate test of his leadership and legacy.
Also read: Will players from India and Pakistan train together? ICC reveals preparations for T20 World Cup 2026
