The much-awaited IND vs PAK match in the T20 World Cup 2026 is finally official. After days of uncertainty, the marquee clash has been locked in, bringing relief to fans and organisers.
India and Pakistan will face off in a Group A game on Sunday, 15 February, at 7 PM local time. The match will be played at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The confirmation has protected the tournament’s biggest draw. This fixture is not just about cricket. It drives massive viewership and brings huge commercial value to the event.
There were doubts earlier over Pakistan’s participation. However, after talks between the Pakistan Cricket Board, the International Cricket Council and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, things moved forward.
A final clearance from the Pakistan government, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, sealed the deal. With that, the biggest rivalry in world cricket is back on track.
As soon as the news broke, fans began booking tickets to Colombo. The sudden rush has led to a massive spike in airfares from major Indian cities to Sri Lanka.
Flights from Delhi to Colombo have seen the sharpest jump. Economy fares that were around ₹30,000 have shot up to nearly ₹1.10 lakh on some flights. Business class tickets have climbed to about ₹2.25 lakh.
On SriLankan Airlines from Delhi, economy fares are around ₹1.39 lakh, while business class seats are close to ₹2.09 lakh.
From Mumbai, one-way economy tickets on Air India are touching ₹84,000. SriLankan Airlines economy fares are about ₹64,000, and business class is around ₹1.39 lakh.
Bengaluru to Colombo fares have also gone up to nearly ₹86,000 in economy. The impact is slightly lower compared to Delhi, mainly due to the shorter distance.
On the cricket front, India have a tight schedule. They first play Namibia in Delhi before travelling to Sri Lanka for the big clash. The quick turnaround will test the team’s planning and recovery.
For fans, though, the excitement is far greater than the stress of ticket prices. India versus Pakistan remains one of the most watched games in world sport.
With the date confirmed and tickets flying off the shelves, Colombo is set to witness another electric night of high-voltage cricket.