The atmosphere at the toss for the Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup 2026 clash was tense, as the captains did not shake hands before the match, a gesture that has become increasingly common since the Asia Cup in September. While the small ritual may seem symbolic, it immediately set the tone for a high-stakes contest between two fierce rivals.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first, citing what he described as a “tacky” surface. He reasoned that the pitch, slow to start, would improve as the evening progressed. India, however, read the conditions differently. Their captain, Suryakumar Yadav, confirmed that India would have batted first regardless, signaling confidence in their batting depth and the expectation that the pitch would slow down enough to counter any dew advantage later in the night.
While Pakistan kept its lineup unchanged, India made two adjustments. Abhishek Sharma returned to the opening spot after missing the last match with a stomach illness, taking Sanju Samson’s place. The team also brought in Kuldeep Yadav in place of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, stacking their side with spin to tackle Pakistan’s slower pitch.
The toss also highlighted the looming battle between India’s powerhouse batting and Pakistan’s mystery spinner, Usman Tariq. Tariq, a unique bowler who releases the ball without a traditional run-up, varies his height and timing with each delivery, and pauses in his stride, has taken the cricket world by storm. In his four international matches, he averages under eight per wicket and concedes less than a run a ball, making him a potential game-changer on this slow track.
With the no-handshake tension, strategic toss decisions, and a mystery spinner ready to baffle the Indian top order, the stage was perfectly set for a dramatic encounter in the T20 World Cup 2026.