T20 World Cup 2026: Is Abhishek Sharma playing in India versus Pakistan Match 27?

The India versus Pakistan thriller is underway at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as the arch-rivals in an epic face-off for Match No. 27 of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 15. The Indians are batting first in this mouthwatering contest, where the winning team is confirmed to proceed to the Super Eights stage of the twenty-team tournament.

Toss Update

Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first, as Salman Ali Agha expressed that the wicket looked like a tacky one and might assist the bowlers in the first half of the match. India's Suryakumar Yadav said that the team has no disappointment in losing the toss since they won their previous two games while defending the target.

Is Abhishek Sharma in the Playing XI for IND vs PAK, Match 27?

Yes, the Indian opener Abhishek Sharma is indeed fit and back for the all-important match between India and Pakistan. Suryakumar confirmed the update while also announcing that Sanju Samson made way for the incoming Abhishek. The Indian captain also said that the team is going with an extra spinner in Kuldeep Yadav, while left-arm pace bowler Arshdeep Singh has been rested.

Playing XIs

India

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy

Pakistan

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

What did the captains say?

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain

Not at all disappointed to be losing the toss, we were looking to bat first. We won last two games defending so we don't want to change it. It is an occasion, it's a high-stake game. This sport teaches you a lot of things, any side can win the game on a given day. Two changes. Abhishek Sharma comes in and Kuldeep Yadav is in for Arshdeep Singh.

Agha Salman, Pakistan captain

We want to bowl first. It looks a bit tacky, so we feel it will assist the bowlers for the first few overs so we want to use that. We are relaxed in our group and excited for this challenge. Bigger ground than SSC and the pitch is slower than the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. Same team for us.