India and Pakistan are getting ready to face each other in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Group A fixture, which has been scheduled for this Sunday night (February 15) at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come up with a special suggestion for the match, where he has suggested benching one important Indian pacer to bring in the spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar.

The Sri Lankan pitches are favoring the spinners as expected in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Sunil Gavaskar feels that Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah can handle the pace bowling responsibility for the match. However, if the pitch continues to assist the spinners, India should go with Washington Sundar. It means that Gavaskar indirectly wants to drop the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, the leading T20I wicket-taker for India, for the India vs Pakistan match in the tournament due to the pitch condition.  

Washington Sundar can bowl spin and is also a left-handed batter: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar said on Aaj Tak, "I would also say that if the pitch is assisting spin, I would prefer the Indian team to open the bowling with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, and include Washington Sundar in the XI. Washington Sundar can bowl spin and is also a left-handed batter who can score runs coming in at number eight. So I would like the team management to assess the pitch and conditions carefully before finalising the playing XI."

India are playing with the spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and the all-rounder Axar Patel, while Shivam Dube can also deliver the medium-pace bowling duty. 

Watch: Abhishek Sharma with full Indian squad leaves for Colombo ahead of T20 World Cup clash vs Pakistan

Sunil Gavaskar also talks about how dangerous Usman Tariq can be against India

On the other hand, there is more talk about how the Indian batters can handle the controversial Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. Gavaskar feels that Tariq can trouble the Indian batters only if the ball turns sharply. 

Gavaskar said, "The Indian team has played against Abrar in previous matches, so they did not face too many difficulties against him. Usman Tariq is new, and I just heard that even the Pakistani batsmen who were playing did not seem to face much trouble. I also do not think there will be too many issues. However, if the ball starts turning sharply, then it can trouble any batter."

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has revealed his preferred playing XI for India’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Namibia, scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, February 12. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif suggested Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as the opening pair. His selection comes amid uncertainty surrounding Abhishek Sharma, who was recently hospitalised due to a stomach illness. Although Abhishek has since been discharged, he is unlikely to feature in the upcoming fixture, potentially paving the way for Samson to slot into the side.

Kaif retained India’s established middle order, backing captain Suryakumar Yadav alongside Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh. He opted for Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya as the seam-bowling all-round options. In the spin department, Kaif included both Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, favouring a twin-spin strategy. Jasprit Bumrah, set to return after missing the USA match, was picked as the lead pacer alongside Hardik, resulting in Arshdeep Singh’s omission. With Bumrah’s comeback expected, Mohammed Siraj is also likely to make way in the revised combination.

Mohammad Kaif's India Playing 11 against Namibia - Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

See Also: Watch: Suryakumar Yadav's wife catches Sky enjoying Nora Fatehi's T20 WC 2026 opening ceremony

I think you must give Kuldeep game time: Mohammad Kaif

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh impressed in India’s opener against the USA, finishing with tidy figures of 2/18 in his four overs. Despite that performance, Mohammad Kaif left him out of his XI for the Namibia clash, opting instead to include wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Kaif reasoned that Kuldeep requires valuable match time ahead of India’s high-profile encounter against Pakistan in Colombo. With the R Premadasa Stadium traditionally aiding spin, Kaif feels India must prepare their key slow bowlers accordingly. Kuldeep also boasts an excellent record against Pakistan, claiming eight wickets in three T20Is at a remarkable average of 9.87.

"I think you must give Kuldeep game time. If India want to win the World Cup, leg-spinners pick wickets, and Kuldeep is proven. Before the game against Pakistan, give Kuldeep game time. You have batting till eight anyway. In Premadasa you will have to back spinners and you want him to play against Pakistan," former India batter said.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, teased his left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh on the team bus post their 29-run victory against the United States of America (USA) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the T20 World Cup 2026. The right-handed batter hilariously stated that the Punjab-born had earned the spot to bat at number eight. 

The 22-run partnership off 14 deliveries between Suryakumar Yadav and Arshdeep provided India the required momentum as the blue brigade struggled on a tricky surface. Arshdeep, who came to bat in the 17th over, opened his account by slamming one over the left-arm spinner, Harmeet Singh’s head for a vital boundary.

See Also: Mohammad Siraj gives special update on Abhishek Sharma ahead of IND vs NAM T20 World Cup 2026 clash

“Thank you, paaji. Partnership ekdam tagdi rahi, maza aa gaya. Aapse thoda sa motivation mila tujhe. Aapne hee contribute kiya. Intent aapka unbelievable tha. Jahan se aapne chaunka maara udhar se hee game change ho gaya. Aapne earn kar liya batting No.8 par.” In a video that went viral on the social media platforms, Suryakumar told Arshdeep about the latter’s new batting position.

Suryakumar Yadav gives Arshdeep Singh new batting spot in T20 WC 2026

Sky remained undefeated on 84 runs in 49 balls at a strike rate of 171.43, with the help of 10 boundaries and four sixes to shoulder them over the 160-run mark. Tilak Varma was the second highest run-getter for them with 25 runs.

Watch the video here: 

The post match conversation between Surya and Arshdeep Singh 😂 pic.twitter.com/G5ZOJeTgzF

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) February 8, 2026

“Only I can tell how much pressure I was feeling. but I had the belief. I knew if I bat till the end, I can make a difference. It was a little different wicket. But we knew when we woke up, there was not a lot of sun outside. Curator tried their best. There was not enough sunlight to have the pitch rolled and watered. We cannot brush everything under the carpet, we need to bat much better.” Sky addressed at the post-match presentation.

In reply, USA got bundled out for 132 runs for the lose of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs with three of their batters crossing the 30-run mark individually.

Brief Scores: IND 161/9 (Suryakumar Yadav 84*, Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) beat USA 132/8 (Shubham Ranjane 37, Mohammad Siraj 3/29, Arshdeep Singh 2/18) by 29 runs.

USA vs IND-A Match Preview

USA vs IND-A Match Details

United States of America vs India-A – 02nd Warm-up Match, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026

Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

Date & Time: 02nd February 2026 at 05:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: JioHotstar

USA vs IND-A Venue Stats 

USA vs IND-A Pitch Report

When batters get their focus in during a T20, they are able to hit at the bowlers right away because the bounce is consistent and the boundaries are tighter. 

USA vs IND-A Weather Report

The evening will be clear, with a high of 26 degrees Celsius during the time of the match 

USA vs IND-A Last Five Matches

USA vs IND-A Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction 01st Warm-up Match

USA vs IND-A Probable Playing XIs:

United States of America Probable Playing XIs

Monank Patel (c), Andries Gous, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Harmeet Singh, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane

India-A Probable Playing XIs 

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah

Topmost Picks for USA vs IND-A Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – United States of America

• Milind Kumar – He is an excellent batter who can score in any direction on the field. Kumar is expected to score runs in the upcoming matches.
• Harmeet Singh – He looked in excellent form in the just-ended Nepal Premier League. Singh can have an effect with both bat and ball in the upcoming matches.

Top Picks – India-A

• Abhishek Sharma – Abhishek Sharma was in good form recently. He is expected to score runs in the upcoming matches.
• Ravi Bishnoi – He is a great spinner who does not leak runs and scoops up wickets when it is most important for his team.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for USA vs IND-A Dream11 Team:

Andries Gous, Monank Patel, Abhishek Sharma(C), Suryakumar Yadav, Saiteja Mukkamala, Harmeet Singh, Hardik Pandya(VC), Milind Kumar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav

Vice-captain – Hardik Pandya, Milind Kumar

Wicketkeeper – Andries Gous

USA vs IND-A Probable Winners:

India-A has few chances of making it past the league stages of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. USAhanistan is a strong team that is expected to perform well in their upcoming matches. USAhanistan's strength in this match should lead to an easy victory over India-A, unless India-A performs exceptionally well. Considering the team combination, India-A is expected to win this match.

USA vs IND-A FAQ

Q: Who is likely to win the USA vs IND-A match today?

A: India-A is expected to win this match.

Q: Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?

A: India-A is ahead in H2H stats.

Q: Who are the top fantasy picks for the USA vs IND-A Dream11 team?

A: Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Milind Kumar.

Q: What is the pitch report for this match?

A: When batters get their focus in during a T20, they are able to hit at the bowlers right away because the bounce is consistent and the boundaries are tighter.

The Indian cricket team currently prepares for the T20 World Cup while they monitor the most important sports event of the year. Indian cricketers Ishan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh revealed their preferred champions for the Australian Open 2026 men's singles final which Novak Djokovic will compete against Carlos Alcaraz at Rod Laver Arena on February 1. 

The upcoming final match will feature two players from different generations who both want to achieve historic milestones at Melbourne Park. Djokovic is targeting his 11th Australian Open championship which would also become his 25th Grand Slam singles title. The Serbian legend reached his 11th final in Melbourne after a gruelling five-set semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner, once again showcasing his trademark resilience on the biggest stage.

Alcaraz reached his first Australian Open final after he defeated Alexander Zverev in their semifinal match which lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes making it the longest semifinal match in tournament history. A World No 1 player who faced cramps and extreme physical fatigue demonstrated impressive determination to advance to the final match. A Sunday victory would grant him both his first Australian Open title and a complete career Grand Slam, making him the youngest player to achieve this milestone.

Watch the video:

Team Carlos Alcaraz or Team Novak Djokovic? 🎾🤔

Here’s who @ishankishan51 and @arshdeepsinghh are backing ahead of the Australian Open final 😎 #TeamIndia | @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/gNUYB2v3qu

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 1, 2026

ALSO SEE: Top 5 shocking upsets in T20 World Cup history

Kishan backs Alcaraz’s fearless style, Arshdeep trusts Djokovic’s experience in Australian Open final

Ishan Kishan revealed his support for Alcaraz after India won their fifth T20I match against New Zealand. The left-handed batter explained that he relates to the Spaniard’s aggressive, instinctive style of play, which he sees as a modern batting approach used by India’s current players.

The experienced Arshdeep Singh backed Djokovic because he showed coolness during matches together with his desire to win his 25th Grand Slam title. The Australian Open 2026 final presents an exciting match between two top players because their head-to-head record stands even, while both competitors aim to achieve historic milestones.

The Indian team delivered an excellent performance in the fifth and final T20I of the series against New Zealand. The match was played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, where India registered a comfortable win.

India batted first and scored a huge 271 runs in the first innings. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav were the top performers for the Men in Blue, scoring 103 runs and 63 runs, respectively.

In reply, New Zealand were restricted to 225 runs in the second innings. Ace pacer Arshdeep Singh was the highest wicket-taker for India with five wickets. However, despite his brilliant five-wicket haul, Arshdeep Singh also ended up registering an unwanted record.

Also read -Watch: Star Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh sings iconic song with teammate after five-wicket haul in IND vs NZ 2026 5th T20I

Arshdeep Singh concedes most runs in a five-wicket haul

In his spell, the star pacer gave away 51 runs. This turned out to be the most expensive five-wicket haul in T20I cricket history.

Arshdeep Singh reflects on his performance

After the match, Arshdeep Singh spoke about his performance. He admitted that he has been giving away runs in recent games and said he is working to improve it.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Arshdeep said:

“Great learning for me to stay in the game. That was the message from the coaching staff. It is just for the camera that I look calm. Lately, I have been going for runs. I am trying to stay in the game with Morne’s help. I enjoyed some of the shots Finn played, but I could have planned better. They were always going to come hard.”

He added:

“The talk was about body language and giving our best effort. The plan was to stop them under 180. I am happy with individual performances, but the perfect team game has not come yet. I hope that comes in the World Cup.”

Star Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh joined spinner Ravi Bishnoi in singing a song from the Bollywood movie Hera Pheri, ‘Dene Wala Jab Bhi Deta’, after the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand. The match was played on Saturday, January 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

India chose to bat first and scored a huge 271/5 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan was the top scorer with 103 runs off 43 balls. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs and lost the match by 46 runs. Arshdeep was the star with the ball and picked up 5 wickets for 51 runs in his four overs.

After the match, Arshdeep and Bishnoi shared a joint Instagram reel. In the video, both players were seen singing the popular song together.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arshdeep Singh (@_arshdeep.singh__)

India clinch T20I series 4-1

India won the final match of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and sealed the series by a 4-1 margin.

Also read -Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal picks Player of the Tournament for T20 World Cup 2026, overlooking in-form Abhishek Sharma

“Great learning for me” – Arshdeep Singh after 5th T20I

In the fifth T20I, Arshdeep Singh had a difficult start. He gave away 40 runs in his first two overs and took one wicket. However, he made a strong comeback in his last two overs. He conceded only 11 runs and picked up four wickets.

This was the first five-wicket haul of the left-arm pacer in T20I cricket.

Speaking after the match, Arshdeep said (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo):

“Great learning for me to stay in the game. That was the message from the coaching staff. It is just for the camera that I look calm. Lately, I have been going for runs. I am trying to stay in the game with Morne’s help. I enjoyed some of the shots Finn played, but I could have planned better.”

He added:

“They were always going to attack. After the power play, SKY spoke about body language and giving our best effort. The plan was to stop them under 180. I am happy with individual performances, but the perfect team game has not come yet. I hope that comes in the World Cup.”

In 76 T20Is, Arshdeep Singh has taken 118 wickets at an average of 19.05. His strike rate is 13.3, and his economy rate is 8.53.

India’s left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, started very badly during the second innings of the fifth and final T20I of the series against New Zealand at the Greenfield International Cricket Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. On the last delivery of the opening over, he picked up the wicket of Tim Seifert, who was caught by Hardik Pandya for five runs.

But in the next over, the Indian pacer was smashed for four boundaries and one six in the last five balls as his figure read 1/40 in two overs. On the first ball of the 12th over, the Punjab-born sent back Rachin Ravindra for 30 runs in 17 balls, with the help of two boundaries and a pair of sixes.

See Also: Watch: Cameron Green complains of Usman Tariq's chucking during PAK vs AUS 2nd T20I

Two balls later, the Punjab-born bowled for another wicket of the opposition captain, Mitchell Santner, for a two-ball duck. The left-handed batter got a top edge that flew towards the cover region, where the Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, held on to the easiest catch of the evening as wickets kept tumbling from one end.

Arshdeep Singh finishes with 5/51 against New Zealand 

On the first couple of balls of the 16th over, the pacer was drilled for two successive boundaries by Kyle Jamieson, who got dismissed for nine runs, thanks to nine boundaries. The right-handed batter swung his willow early and ended up getting an inside edge that clattered the stumps. The Kiwis got their seven wickets down, and the pacer celebrated every single moment.

Watch the video here: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#ArshdeepSingh’s fearsome fifer swings the game under #TeamIndia’s control! Bringing up his best figures just 7 days before the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup! 💪🇮🇳#INDvNZ 5th T20I 👉 LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/7DIDSDu12k pic.twitter.com/bNJIztHJRJ

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 31, 2026

Two balls later, Arshdeep Singh picked up his fifth and final wicket, completing a memorable five-wicket haul (fifer) in the IND vs NZ 5th T20I. Daryl Mitchell made room and attempted a big-hitting reverse sweep, but Arshdeep responded with a pinpoint yorker-length delivery outside off stump. The New Zealand batter, who had scored 26 off 12 balls, ended up dragging the ball back onto his stumps, pushing India closer to a commanding victory.

Earlier, India vs New Zealand turned into a high-scoring T20I as the hosts piled up a massive 271/5 in 20 overs, showcasing their explosive batting depth. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a stunning 103 off 43 balls, smashing six fours and ten sixes, while Suryakumar Yadav added a rapid 63, keeping the run rate sky-high throughout the innings.

In reply, New Zealand’s chase never fully settled despite resistance, as they were bowled out for 225, suffering a 46-run defeat and conceding the T20I series 4–1. Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 5/51, underlining his impact as India’s premier left-arm pacer in T20 cricket.

Brief Scores:
India 271/5 (Ishan Kishan 103, Suryakumar Yadav 63, Lockie Ferguson 2/41)
New Zealand 225 (Finn Allen 80, Ish Sodhi 33, Arshdeep Singh 5/51)
India won by 46 runs

Frequently Asked Question

1. How did Arshdeep Singh start his spell in the IND vs NZ 5th T20I?

Arshdeep Singh had a rough start, conceding heavily early on, but he struck on the last ball of the first over by dismissing Tim Seifert.

2. Which key wickets turned the match in India’s favour?

Arshdeep removed Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Daryl Mitchell, triggering a collapse in New Zealand’s middle and lower order.

3. How did Arshdeep Singh take his fifth wicket?

His fifth wicket came when Daryl Mitchell attempted a reverse sweep but was beaten by a perfect yorker, dragging the ball onto his stumps.

4. What were Arshdeep Singh’s final bowling figures?

Arshdeep finished with impressive figures of 5/51, registering his maiden T20I five-wicket haul.

5. How did India perform with the bat in the match?

India piled up 271/5, led by Ishan Kishan (103) and a quick-fire 63 from Suryakumar Yadav.

6. What was the final result of the IND vs NZ 5th T20I series?

New Zealand were bowled out for 225, losing the match by 46 runs, as India sealed the five-match T20I series 4–1.

India and New Zealand are set for the third T20I of the five-match series at Guwahati, where the hosts India are leading by 2–0, and with another victory, they will secure the series. In this third T20I, Indian bowlers Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh aren't present in the playing XI. 

In the Guwahati T20I on Sunday evening (January 25), the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav chose to field first after winning the toss. At that toss, he revealed that they made two changes, as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi are in the playing XI as the replacements for Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh.

See Also: IND vs NZ, 3rd T20: Toss Update and Playing XI

Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh are crucial names in Indian T20I bowling 

Both the leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy and the left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh are very crucial names in the Indian T20I bowling line-up. While Varun is the no.1-ranked T20I bowler at present, Arshdeep is the leading T20I wicket-taker for Men in Blues. 

Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh rested for Guwahati T20I

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is very near, as India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the tournament from February 7 to March 8, 2026. However, there is no new injury report in the Indian team. The absence of Varun and Arshdeep from the Guwahati T20I is only the Indian team management's players resting and workload management strategy, as the Indian captain clarified in the toss. Indian skipper confirmed that both players are resting for the game, while both played the first two games of the series, which India won by 48 runs and seven wickets.  

In the previous game, which was the second match of the series, Jasprit Bumrah was rested while Axar Patel was the for change due to his injury. Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav replaced them for that Raipur T20I.