After weeks of off-field drama, the most eagerly awaited clash of the T20 World Cup is now confirmed to proceed as planned. India and Pakistan are set to meet in Colombo on Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium, with the buzz around this iconic rivalry driven, above all, by pure cricketing passion.

India kicked off their campaign with a victory over the United States, where Suryakumar Yadav produced a vital knock to steady the innings from a tricky situation and steer the side home.

They followed it up in dominant fashion, thrashing Namibia by 93 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium — a result that marked their biggest win by runs in T20 World Cup history. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya set the tone with half-centuries.

On the other hand, Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble against the Netherlands before Faheem Ashraf produced a timely cameo to guide them over the line in a nail-biting contest. They then delivered a far more polished display against the United States, securing their second straight win and maintaining a perfect record in the tournament so far.

Sunday’s showdown promises to be an electrifying contest. India, riding high on a string of victories, will head into the game with strong momentum and a slight advantage. Their dominant record over Pakistan in international cricket over the past decade further adds a psychological boost ahead of the encounter.

India’s Commanding Record in T20 World Cup History

Since the inception of the T20 World Cup in 2007, India have asserted their dominance on the tournament’s grandest stage against Pakistan.

• Total Matches Played: 8
• India Wins: 7
• Pakistan Wins: 1

India’s overwhelming success in these encounters underlines their stronghold in the shortest format’s most high-profile rivalry.

India’s Impressive Record at R. Premadasa Stadium

India have tasted significant success at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, emerging as one of the most formidable teams at the venue. Since 2009, they have featured in 15 T20Is here, clinching 11 victories while suffering only four defeats — a testament to their consistency in Sri Lankan conditions.

The ICC World Twenty20 2012 further showcased their dominance, as India won four of their five matches at the ground, with their only setback coming against Australia.

Chasing Trend and Par Score at R. Premadasa Stadium

At the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, teams batting second have frequently held the upper hand, underlining the importance of pacing a chase well. Across 51 T20Is at the venue, the average first-innings total stands at 152, with sides successfully chasing targets on 28 occasions.

The surface generally provides a balanced contest between bat and ball, ensuring closely fought encounters. While an imposing total may not be necessary, a score in the region of 165 or slightly above could prove match-winning on Sunday, making intelligent and measured batting crucial.

Both India and Pakistan possess strong spin arsenals, but India’s pace attack — especially with Jasprit Bumrah back in the mix — gives them a slight advantage.

At the same time, there is considerable buzz around Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq, who is widely viewed as a potential game-changer for the Salman Ali Agha-led side in their showdown against India.