WATCH: Gautam Gambhir sidesteps question on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup boycott vs India

India head coach Gautam Gambhir failed to comment on Pakistan's decision not play against India in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group Stage clash, which is scheduled to take place on February 15 in Colombo. 

Gambhir was stopped by reporters at the airport while leaving for Mumbai, where India are scheduled to play their first warm-up match against South Africa. He politely thanked the media for their wishes ahead of the tournament, but did not respond when asked about Pakistan’s stance. Instead, he continued walking without making any remarks.

The Pakistan government has allowed its team to take part in the World Cup but has reportedly refused permission for Pakistan to play against India. This has sparked a lot of discussion, as an India vs Pakistan match is one of the biggest attractions in world cricket, both financially and competitively.

PCB yet to send official confirmation to ICC

So far, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not received any official message from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about skipping the match. However, the ICC has made it clear that there could be serious consequences if the fixture does not take place as planned.

India's preparations before T20 World Cup 2026

India, for their part, are fully focused on preparations. The team will face South Africa in a warm-up game as they prepare for the tournament, which is scheduled to start from February 7. India and Pakistan are in the same group along with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. 

Before the tournament starts, both teams will play warm-up games on Wednesday, February 4. India will take on South Africa, while Pakistan are set to play against Ireland.