The Indian cricket team will meet Pakistan in the 27th match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The arch-rivals will face each other after the Asia Cup 2025 final, where the Men in Blue finished on the winning side. The World Cup match is expected to be a thriller since both teams are in great form and have won two matches each. 

The world has witnessed their rivalry on the field, and when it comes to an ICC event, it increases. With the controversies lately, the fans are anticipating a much more interesting clash between them. They can even get to see some on-field drama as well. In this article, we will discuss the top five players who might shine in the upcoming clash. 

Top 5 players to watch out for in India vs Pakistan match

1. Suryakumar Yadav

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who is in incredible form, will look forward to producing a match-winning knock against the arch-rivals in the upcoming match. After struggling to collect runs with the bat in the last two years, he has finally gotten off to a great start in the previous series against New Zealand. 

SKY, who plays in the middle order, has an important job to score runs and help the team get to a good total. With the uncertainty of Abhishek Sharma's presence in the upcoming match, the pressure will fall on the rest of the batters equally. However, all eyes will be on the skipper as he will have to lead from the front. 

2.  Babar Azam

Pakistan's one of the most experienced players, Babar Azam, will be expected to score runs in the match. He has been struggling to score runs in the T20Is, but the board trusted him in the competition since he carries the experience and will be helpful to the team as well. 

Babar has played many matches against India and bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and others. He will have to perform in the upcoming game, as Pakistan will have a great chance to qualify for the Super 8 if they beat India. Hence, it's a crucial game for both teams. 

3. Jasprit Bumrah

India's one of the best bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, will have a lot of expectations on his shoulders. Being the most experienced bowler in the team, he will lead the attack and look to get the early breakthroughs in the match. Picking up wickets in the powerplay will be crucial for India. 

Bumrah, who missed the first game against the USA, was back in the team for the second encounter against Namibia. The right-arm pacer is India’s biggest bowling weapon, capable of striking in powerplay and death overs. He has been a consistent performer against Pakistan historically and remains one of India’s key bowlers.

4. Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan's premium bowler, Shaheen Afridi, will be a key bowler for the team, especially in the powerplays. He is a major threat with the new ball, and his ability to swing the ball at high pace makes him extremely dangerous. The Indian openers will have to try to have a solid plan against him. 

Afridi can take wickets in the powerplays, which will put pressure on the Indian batters. Hence, the game can turn in Pakistan's favor. Nevertheless, the fans will get a good chance to see their favorite teams in action after a long time. 

5. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is one of the best all-rounders in the world and has time and again proved his worth. He has performed in almost all the games, with the bat and the ball, making him a valuable asset to the team. Even in the previous game against Namibia, he was awarded the Player of the Match trophy for scoring a half-century and taking two wickets. 

Over the years, Hardik has been consistent with his performance, especially against Pakistan. Hence, all eyes will be on him in the upcoming encounter. He is an incredible player and will be a key for India.