🔥 “Same Group, Easy Group – Just to Ensure a Match”
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back while speaking about the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2026. According to Gavaskar, the two arch-rivals have been deliberately placed in the same and relatively easy group to ensure at least one blockbuster encounter in the 20-team tournament.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to face off on February 15 in Colombo, a match that is already being billed as the biggest draw of the competition.
📊 Group A Breakdown
Group A:
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🇮🇳 India
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🇵🇰 Pakistan
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🇳🇦 Namibia
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🇳🇱 Netherlands
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🇺🇸 USA
Gavaskar believes the group has been designed in such a way that both India and Pakistan are expected to qualify comfortably, with the “real competition” beginning only in the knockout stages.
“As always in recent World Cups, India and Pakistan are placed in the same group to ensure at least one clash, and also put in a fairly easy group to qualify for the next round,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
🇮🇳 India Start as Favourites
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India will begin as favourites against Pakistan, backed by a dominant ICC record against their rivals. India also beat Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup last year, including the final in Dubai.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have defeated India only once in T20 World Cup history, a memorable 10-wicket win in 2021 under Babar Azam’s captaincy.
🇺🇸 Gavaskar Warns Against Underestimating USA
Gavaskar also pointed out that the USA could be stronger than they were in 2024, citing their growth through Major League Cricket (MLC).
He recalled how the USA shocked Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and believes exposure to top international players has helped them shed the “awe factor.”
“Sharing dressing rooms, learning how top players prepare and deal with failure—these things can’t be taught in any university,” Gavaskar noted.
⚠️ Will Pakistan Even Participate?
A major question mark hangs over Pakistan’s participation. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that a final decision will be taken on January 30 or February 2.
Pakistan are reportedly unhappy after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.
Naqvi stated that Pakistan will withdraw if instructed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding more uncertainty to the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash.
🧠 Final Word
While fans eagerly await another India-Pakistan showdown, Gavaskar’s comments highlight a familiar ICC pattern—maximum drama early, real battles later. Whether Pakistan take the field or not, the controversy has already added spice to the T20 World Cup 2026 🌶️
