How can India face Pakistan again in T20 World Cup 2026?

India and Pakistan met each other three times in the 2025 Asia Cup. In the ongoing T20 World Cup, the arch-rivals have faced each other once in the group stage. This game was played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and opted to bowl first. Ishan Kishan played a blistering knock, smashing 77 off just 40 balls. However, the other Indian batters struggled to get accustomed to the challenging surface, especially when the spinners were in operation. In the end, Shivam Dube played a crucial cameo as India finished on 175/7 in their 20 overs.

In the second innings, Hardik Pandya started the proceedings with a wicket-maiden before Jasprit Bumrah bagged two more wickets in the next over. At that point, the writing was on the wall as far as Pakistan's fate was concerned. Despite Usman Khan and Shaheen Afridi's resistance, the Men in Green were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, losing by a considerable margin of 61 runs.

How can India face Pakistan again in T20 World Cup 2026?

For India and Pakistan to face each other again in the tournament, the latter will have to firstly make it to the next stage. While India progressed to the Super 8s after winning three games in a row and one left (against Netherlands on February 18), Pakistan need to beat Namibia in their last group game to secure qualification.

If Pakistan make it to the Super8s, they will do it by finishing second in Group A. That, in turn, means that Pakistan will be placed in different groups in the Super 8s. While Pakistan will have New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka in their group, India will be in the company of the West Indies, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

If India and Pakistan both finish at the top of their respective groups in the Super 8s, then they will not face off in the semi-final stage. However, they can still meet in the final, on March 8, in case they overcome the semis.

If India top their group and Pakistan finish second in theirs or vice versa, then the two age-old rivals will cross swords in the semi-finals itself.