IND vs PAK,T20 World Cup 2026, Colombo:As the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side gears up to take on Salman Ali Agha'sPakistanin the much-anticipated, high-voltage clash at theR.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the airfares from Delhi to Colombo seem to have hit a record high with a 500 per cent hike in plane tickets. The normal ticket fares fromIndiato Sri Lanka roughly range from Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000, which has now touched Rs 1,10,000 in economy. Goes without saying that it will be a full house, with every ticket officially sold out in the 35000-capacity stadium.
While the prices are expected to only rise from here on, with the match scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the business class fares have soared to approximately Rs 2,00,000, and with every passing moment, the chances of getting on a plane to reach Colombo as a last-minute arrangement to watch the match are out of the question. The Indian team and the Pakistan team are reportedly staying in different hotels, and all nearby hotels have been booked to capacity.
The Group A encounter between the two sub-continental giants has been valued at approximately USD 250 million, and India, historically, has been the better team by a country mile in the ICC events. On Sunday, it won't be any different as the Men in Blue, having defeated the Men in Green, on as many as three occasions when they last met in the Asia Cup 2025, will again start as outright favourites to win the match.
However, in a match where fortunes can turn at the drop of a hat, careers are made or broken, previous encounters, favourites tag, and win-loss percentages hardly decide the outcome of the game. India have won both their games against the USA and Namibia in the tournament, while Pakistan, having survived the Dutch scare in their opening match, seem to have settled down pretty well, and are coming off a comprehensive win against the Americans.
The match is scheduled to start at 7 pm IST, with the toss set to take place at 6:30 pm. For India, star batterAbhishek Sharma, who was down with a stomach infection, remains doubtful to start against Pakistan, although they would be happy with the wayJasprit Bumrahbowled in the match against Namibia. All in all, we have a cracking contest in our hands.
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