(Image source from: PTI)

India's T20I leader Suryakumar Yadav has stated that his team's plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 will not change, even with doubts about whether Pakistan will play in their scheduled match. At a meeting for captains before the tournament, Suryakumar mentioned that India would travel to Colombo as intended and be ready for matches, regardless of Pakistan's decision to play or not. He believes that India is not responsible for the situation. “Our thinking is very straightforward. We haven't turned down the chance to play against them; they are the ones who have declined. Our tickets are booked, and we are heading to Colombo. Our schedule is set — first the USA, then Canada, and finally off to Colombo,” Suryakumar explained. India will carefully follow the rules set by the International Cricket Council and stick to the tournament timeline as published. This means they will be at the location, fulfill all pre-match needs like training and media tasks, and wait for direction from the match referee if Pakistan does not show up, which could lead to a forfeit.

The Pakistan government released a message on social media saying their team will join the tournament but will not play against India. India is set to compete in four group matches during the tournament. They will begin their journey against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai, then face Namibia on February 12 in New Delhi. The highly awaited game against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, followed by India's last group match against the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad. After the group stage, the best two teams from each group will move on to the Super 8 stage, where they will be split into two groups of four. The leading teams from those groups will make it to the semi-finals. If both India and Pakistan make it through the tournament, there may be a chance for a rematch in the final. However, it is still unclear if Pakistan would take part in that scenario, which adds more uncertainty to an already complex situation. For now, India remains focused solely on cricket, preparation, and complying with the regulations set by the ICC.