Team India has finally responded after Pakistan reversed its last minute decision regarding a possible boycott of their high profile T20 World Cup 2026 encounter. The much awaited Group A match between the two arch rivals is now confirmed to take place on February 15 in Colombo and the Indian camp says the development never really came as a surprise.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi ahead of India’s upcoming match against Namibia assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate revealed that the players always believed the fixture would go ahead as scheduled. According to him the team never altered its preparation or mindset despite uncertainty around the game.
Ten Doeschate explained that the squad continued planning with the assumption that India versus Pakistan would happen and therefore the official confirmation only reinforced what the players already expected. He added that the team welcomes the opportunity to compete against a strong opponent and sees the match as an important challenge in the tournament.
The confirmation came after discussions between the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board officials followed by consultations involving multiple cricket boards. The final approval was granted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister after requests from several member nations highlighting the importance of the match for the global tournament.
The Indian camp has maintained a clear stance of keeping politics out of the dressing room. Ten Doeschate reiterated that while the history and emotions surrounding the rivalry are understood the focus remains entirely on cricket and performance. He acknowledged that playing in Colombo could pose challenges especially since Pakistan has already spent considerable time acclimatising to conditions there.
India however remains focused on delivering its best performance when the two teams meet next week as the T20 World Cup continues to build momentum.
