Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has said that if the T20 World Cup group-stage clash between India and Pakistan does not take place, it’s “no big deal.” According to him, the match no longer lives up to the hype and drama that surrounds it. Manjrekar added that with the current form of both teams, it often feels like India is “beating minnows” whenever they win against Pakistan.
Sanjay Manjrekar on India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash
Manjrekar's take came after the Pakistan government announced on social media that the Men in Green will not feature against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place on February 15. Pakistan is in Group A with India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. No official reason was given for the boycott. Pakistan's decision to boycott came after ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the mega event.
On Instagram, Manjrekar explained that India and Pakistan are “not in the same league anymore.” He feels that matches against top teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are more exciting and meaningful, as beating them brings real pride. He also said the absence of an India-Pakistan match “will not reduce the value of the tournament.”
“Honestly, if the India-Pakistan match does not happen, it’s no big deal. For a long time now, the actual game hasn’t lived up to the hype. Earlier, in the 90s and before, Pakistan was a strong team, so beating them felt special. But now, it almost feels like India is playing against minnows,” he said.
“That’s how much Pakistan cricket has declined. I saw it in the Asia Cup as well. If you compare the young players coming through India’s system with those from Pakistan, the difference is huge—like night and day,” Manjrekar added.
He concluded, “Even without an India-Pakistan match, there are still games against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa to watch. Those are the matches that matter and the ones India needs to win for fans to feel proud. For me, it’s a non-event and doesn’t lower the value of the tournament.”
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The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to start from February 7 where defending champions India will start their campaign against USA at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.