The cricket world once again came to a standstill as the Pakistan national cricket team faced the India national cricket team in a blockbuster encounter at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Matches between these two sides are never ordinary fixtures, and this contest immediately carried the familiar intensity, crowd energy, and tactical tension that define one of cricket’s greatest rivalries.
From the moment play began, both teams approached the game with visible caution mixed with attacking intent, fully aware that early momentum in a high-pressure World Cup clash can shape the entire contest. The opening phase saw disciplined bowling spells testing the batters’ patience, while the batting side looked to settle quickly and capitalize on any loose deliveries. The powerplay overs, as expected, proved crucial in setting the initial direction of the innings, with scoring opportunities tightly contested and every boundary greeted with loud reactions from the packed stands.
Playing XI table for both teams
| Pakistan | India |
|---|---|
| Saim Ayub | Abhishek Sharma |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Ishan Kishan (WK) |
| Salman Ali Agha (C) | Tilak Varma |
| Babar Azam | Suryakumar Yadav (C) |
| Usman Khan (WK) | Hardik Pandya |
| Shadab Khan | Shivam Dube |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Rinku Singh |
| Faheem Ashraf | Axar Patel |
| Shaheen Afridi | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Abrar Ahmed | Varun Chakaravarthy |
| Usman Tariq (Mystery Spinner) | Jasprit Bumrah |
Power Play Overview
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 encounter between Pakistan and India delivered a high-intensity start as the powerplay concluded. India lost Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck in the very first over, caught brilliantly by Shaheen Shah Afridi off Salman Ali Agha, giving Pakistan an early breakthrough and putting immediate pressure on the Indian top order.
After the early wicket of Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, Ishan Kishan walked in to stabilize India’s innings. Displaying a mix of aggression and composure, he raced to 37 runs off 22 balls, keeping India’s scoring rate healthy during the powerplay. Tilak Varma joined him at the crease and remained cautious in the early overs, scoring 5 runs off 5 balls while focusing on rotating the strike and supporting Kishan as India built a platform.
Pakistan’s bowlers executed their plans effectively throughout the first six overs. Salman Ali Agha bowled the first and third overs with disciplined lines, Shaheen Shah Afridi impressed in the second over with tight deliveries, while Saim Ayub took responsibility in the fourth and sixth overs. Abrar Ahmed completed the fifth over with accurate spin, keeping the scoring in check.
At the end of the powerplay, India’s score read 52 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 6 overs, a solid platform with Kishan anchoring the innings but still needing support from the middle order. Pakistan remains in control, having struck early while restricting the scoring rate effectively in these crucial opening overs.
Key Milestones to Watch – India vs Pakistan
High-voltage matches like India vs Pakistan are never short of drama, and this one also brings several personal milestones into the spotlight. For India, Rinku Singh is just five runs away from completing 3,500 T20 runs, a significant mark that highlights his growing impact in the shortest format. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya needs 22 more runs to reach 6,000 T20 runs, a major achievement for one of India’s most dynamic all-rounders.
On the Pakistan side, spinner Abrar Ahmed stands just one wicket short of 50 T20 wickets, a milestone that would underline his rise as a key strike option in limited-overs cricket. Fellow all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is also closing in on a landmark, needing three more wickets to complete 100 T20 international wickets, a remarkable feat that reflects his long-standing contribution to Pakistan’s bowling attack. With these achievements within reach, the India vs Pakistan contest carries extra personal motivation for some of the biggest names on the field.
