By Krishna Dua 
IND vs PAK 15 Feb 2026: Blockbuster Clash Preview
The biggest cricket match on the planet returns on Sunday, 15 February 2026, when India take on Pakistan in the marquee Group A fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. IST (toss 6:30 p.m.) and will be played in front of a capacity 66,000 crowd plus an expected global television and digital audience exceeding 500 million. Both teams enter the contest unbeaten after winning their first two group matches comfortably, making this effectively a virtual quarter-final: the winner is almost certain to top the group and secure a favourable path in the Super 8 stage.
With the rivalry carrying decades of history, political weight and unmatched emotional intensity, India vs Pakistan remains the single most-watched sporting contest on Earth. Below is the complete pre-match preview, including probable XIs, key battles, pitch & conditions report, head-to-head record, form guide, injury updates and predictions.
Head-to-Head Record & Recent Encounters
India lead the overall T20I record 10–3 (1 no-result). In T20 World Cups the margin is even more one-sided: India 7, Pakistan 1 (the famous 10-wicket win for Pakistan in Dubai during the 2021 edition remains their only victory in the tournament).
Most recent completed matches:
- Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 – India won by 5 wickets (Chennai)
- T20 World Cup 2024 Group stage – India won by 6 runs (New York)
- Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 – India won by 228 runs (Colombo)
India have won the last six completed T20Is against Pakistan.
Probable Playing XIs
India
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
Impact players: Shivam Dube / Washington Sundar / Kuldeep Yadav
Pakistan
- Babar Azam (c)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Fakhar Zaman
- Saim Ayub
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Azam Khan
- Imad Wasim
- Shadab Khan
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
Impact players: Usama Mir / Abrar Ahmed / Mohammad Nawaz
Pitch Report & Conditions – Eden Gardens
The Eden Gardens pitch for T20Is in 2025–26 has been high-scoring but two-paced. Average first-innings score in the last five T20Is: 181. Teams batting second have won 3 out of 5. Dew is expected to be heavy after 8 p.m., making the toss extremely valuable. Captain winning the toss is almost certain to bowl first.
Weather forecast for 15 February:
- Clear sky
- Temperature 24–28 °C during the match
- Humidity 65–75 %
- No rain threat
Key Battles to Watch
- Rohit Sharma & Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Shaheen Shah Afridi & Naseem Shah India’s explosive openers against the world’s most lethal new-ball pair. Shaheen’s swing and Naseem’s raw pace will test India’s top order in the powerplay.
- Virat Kohli vs Shadab Khan Kohli has dominated Shadab historically (average 68.50, strike-rate 142). Shadab will try to flight the ball and use wrong’uns to disrupt Kohli’s rhythm.
- Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan vs Jasprit Bumrah & Arshdeep Singh Pakistan’s top order has struggled against Bumrah’s death-over yorkers. Arshdeep’s left-arm angle adds another dimension.
- Hardik Pandya vs Haris Rauf Rauf’s express pace (150+ km/h) vs Hardik’s power-hitting will be a mouth-watering contest in the middle overs.
- Rishabh Pant vs Pakistan spinners (Shadab & Imad) Pant’s aggressive approach against Pakistani spin has often produced fireworks.
Team News & Injury Updates
India
- All players fit except Kuldeep Yadav (slight quad niggle – available as impact sub)
- Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar competing for the all-rounder slot
Pakistan
- Naseem Shah fully fit after missing the Scotland game
- Fakhar Zaman cleared to play despite bruised finger
- No major injury concerns
Predicted Game Flow & Strategy
- Dew factor expected after 8 p.m. → team bowling second has clear advantage
- Spinners likely to dominate middle overs (both teams have quality options)
- Death bowling will decide the match: Bumrah, Arshdeep, Shaheen and Haris will bowl at the death
Most experts predict a high-scoring game (180–200 par score) with dew helping the chasing side.
Fan & Expert Predictions
- Social-media polls (X & Instagram): India 71 %, Pakistan 22 %, Tie 7 %
- Bookmakers (as of 10 Feb): India 1.52, Pakistan 2.60
- Former players:
- Wasim Akram: “Pakistan can win if Babar & Rizwan get going early.”
- Gautam Gambhir: “India’s bowling depth gives them the edge.”
- Ramiz Raja: “If Pakistan’s spinners take early wickets, they can defend anything.”
Conclusion
India vs Pakistan on 15 February 2026 at Eden Gardens carries the weight of history, rivalry and national pride. With both teams in strong form and the stakes enormous, the match promises to be a high-octane spectacle watched by hundreds of millions worldwide.
Whether it is Rohit’s aggression, Kohli’s class, Babar’s elegance, Rizwan’s consistency, Bumrah’s death-over mastery or Shaheen’s swing, fans can expect fireworks in Kolkata. Regardless of the result, the 2026 edition’s biggest blockbuster is set to live up to its billing.