The buzz around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 opener in Colombo is electric, with the Indian squad already on site. This Sunday’s group-stage thriller revives one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries, where history favors India overwhelmingly.
Out of 17 T20Is, India boasts 13 victories, Pakistan three, and one no-result. Diving into batting charts, Virat Kohli’s legacy shines brightest: 492 runs in 11 innings over 13 years, averaging 70.28 with five fifties—a testament to his mastery even post-T20 retirement.
Pakistan’s Rizwan is next with 228 runs from five outings, but he’s missing the current World Cup action. Veterans like Shoaib Malik (164 runs) and Mohammad Hafeez (156 runs) follow, with Farhan’s recent 155-run blitz in Asia Cup 2023 completing the top five.
Bowling stats reveal Hardik Pandya as the wrecker-in-chief, snaring 15 wickets in nine games. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umar Gul tie at 11, while Jasprit Bumrah (9 in seven) and Haris Rauf match strides in fourth. Kuldeep Yadav’s explosive 8-for in three matches rounds it off. These numbers set the stage for another chapter in this epic saga.