IND vs PAK T20 WC: Rain threat looms - who'll benefit if match gets washed out?

Colombo (The Uttam Hindu): The thrilling journey of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is going to witness the biggest rivalry in cricket history today. On Sunday, February 15, the teams of India and Pakistan will face each other at the historic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. There is tremendous excitement among the fans about this high-voltage match of Group A, but this time the discussion is more about the weather than the form of the players or the strategy of the team. The shadow of rain is looming over this great match, which has increased the heartbeat of millions of cricket fans around the world.

Will rain spoil the fun of the game in Colombo?

The skies over Colombo are currently overcast, but the good news is that it's not raining yet. Initially, the weather department had predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms that would disrupt the match. However, the latest update from the Sri Lankan Meteorological Department has brought some relief to cricket fans. According to the latest information, there's little chance of rain in Colombo during the day, but a light haze may be seen on the field at night. While there's a heavy rain alert in Sri Lanka's Eastern and Southern provinces, Colombo, located in the Western Province, is expected to remain relatively dry.

The toss will take place at 6:30 pm, and the players will face this challenge

This blockbuster match between India and Pakistan will begin at 7:00 PM IST, while both captains will take the field for the toss at 6:30 PM. Talking about the weather conditions, the maximum temperature of the day is expected to be around 34°C and the minimum temperature around 24°C. The humidity level on the field can fluctuate between 50 and 85 percent, which will prove to be a big physical challenge for the players of both the teams. Due to this extreme humidity, on one hand, the bowlers may face a lot of difficulty in gripping the ball, while on the other hand, the fielders will also feel tired quickly.

What does the ICC rule say if a match is washed out due to rain?

The biggest question on fans' minds is what will happen if rain prevents a match from taking place. It should be noted that no reserve day has been set aside for the T20 World Cup group stage matches. According to ICC rules, a minimum of five overs of play must be played in each innings for a T20 match to be decided. If even five overs of play are not possible due to heavy rain in Colombo, the match will be declared abandoned by the umpires. In such a situation, both India and Pakistan will be awarded one point each, and both teams will directly advance to the Super 8 round.

Suryakumar's army is at the top of the points table

Both arch-rivals have performed exceptionally well in this tournament so far. India and Pakistan have won both their opening matches. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team currently tops the Group A points table with four points and an excellent net run rate of +3.050. Team India defeated the United States and Namibia in their previous matches. Pakistan, on the other hand, also has four points but is placed second due to a net run rate of +0.932. Pakistan achieved this position by defeating the Netherlands and the United States.

All eyes are now on the Colombo skies, with cricket fans praying for the clouds to clear and for a full 40 overs of exciting cricket to be played on the field.