India vs Pakistan, Match 27 Match Summary

Sunday blockbuster - After all the uncertainty over whether the fixture would go ahead, decks have finally been cleared as arch-rivals India and Pakistan prepare to square off at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. These two sides do not engage in bilateral cricket, which only intensifies the anticipation whenever they meet in ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup. Both teams are part of Group A, and the stakes are significant. The winner will seal progression to the Super 8 stage. For the loser, it will not be the end of their campaign, but qualification would then hinge on winning their final group game. Pakistan's journey so far - Salman Agha's men are based in Colombo for the group stage, though their first two matches were played at the city's other venue, the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. They survived a massive scare against the Netherlands before brushing aside the USA. Middle overs a concern - A recurring theme in their two games so far, and in the lead-up to the World Cup, has been a dip in scoring rate outside the Powerplay. They have not fully capitalised on the strong starts provided by their openers and will need to address that if they are to make a deep run. Top order in focus - The last time Pakistan faced India, Sahibzada Farhan's 57 set the tone in the Asia Cup final. He, alongside Saim Ayub, will once again be crucial at the top. In the lead-up to the World Cup, Salman Agha promoted himself to number three to counter spin outside the Powerplay, but is yet to make a significant impact. Babar Azam has found runs, yet the overall tempo through the middle overs continues to invite scrutiny. Conditions versus combinations - Head coach Mike Hesson and skipper Salman Agha read the conditions well against the USA. They went in with just one specialist quick in Shaheen Afridi and loaded the side with spin options, a move that paid off handsomely. Once again, much will depend on how they assess the surface and balance their attack accordingly. There is, however, a lingering concern around Afridi's effectiveness with the new ball, as he has not been as incisive in the Powerplay as he once was. Against an Indian side that comes hard in the Powerplay and bats deep, the new ball battle could well shape the contest. India's tale - The opening two games have shown the two-time champions and reigning holders that defending the title will not be straightforward. They were reduced to 77/6 by the USA and then, against Namibia, lost their way after racing out of the blocks and failed to finish strongly. Suryakumar Yadav's side has looked less comfortable on pitches where the ball has stopped in the surface, something that could once again come into play in Colombo. Availability concerns and a tricky matchup - Abhishek Sharma missed the previous game due to a stomach infection that required hospitalisation. Although he has been discharged, he may need another match to fully recover. If Abhishek is unavailable, Sanju Samson could get another opportunity, though he has too often thrown away promising starts rather tamely. India were unsettled by Namibia's skipper, Gerhard Erasmus and his varied release points, and a similar examination awaits in Usman Tariq, whom they will be facing for the first time. His pause at release has troubled batters not only in this tournament but also in the competitions leading up to the global event, whether at the international or franchise level. The Kuldeep conundrum - The last time these sides met in Colombo during the 2023 Asia Cup in the ODI format, Kuldeep Yadav claimed a five-wicket haul. He has not featured so far this World Cup, with India preferring Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy as the frontline spin options. With spinners enjoying success at the venue, the Indian think tank could be tempted to bring in the left-arm wrist spinner. The dilemma would be whether to do so at the expense of Arshdeep Singh, with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah continuing as the primary pace options, or to trim batting depth to accommodate an extra specialist spinner. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - India - WWWLW | Pakistan - WWWWW. What do the numbers say? India hold a commanding lead in the T20 World Cups. The head-to-head record stands at 7-1 in India's favour, with Pakistan's only win coming in Dubai in 2021 in a dominant 10-wicket triumph. That remains Pakistan's sole victory over their arch-rivals in Men's World Cup history, across both ODI and T20I formats. Recent form also favours India. The last five T20Is between the two sides have all gone the way of the team in blue. Spin to win? In the 6 competitive white-ball games played at the R Premadasa Stadium since the start of the year, 51 out of the 83 wickets have fallen to spin. The spinners have operated at an economy rate of 5.66. In comparison, the pacers have claimed 32 wickets at a higher economy rate of 7.28, underlining the influence spin has had at the venue. Weather check - Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology has flagged the possibility of a developing low-pressure system in the region. Typically, in these parts, the heat builds through the day before the heavens open in the evening. Let's hope that is not the case this time and that we get an uninterrupted spectacle under the lights.