India captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that Pakistan might hold a tactical edge in their upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 clash. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on February 14 he noted that Salman Ali Agha’s side could have a better grasp of the local conditions, having been stationed in Sri Lanka since the tournament's commencement. This follows a similar observation made by India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, who earlier in the week pointed out that Pakistan's two-week stay in Colombo offered them a logistical and familiarisation advantage.
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Suryakumar Yadav on Pakistan's advantage in IND vs PAK encounter
While Suryakumar conceded that the opposition has had more time to acclimate to the R. Premadasa Stadium’s unique surfaces, he remained confident in his own squad's resilience. He emphasized that the "Men in Blue" have a long history of playing in Sri Lanka and have developed comprehensive strategies to counter any home-field advantage Pakistan might enjoy. For the Indian captain, while the head start for the rivals is a factor, it isn't enough to overshadow India's own preparation and deep experience at the venue.
“They (Pakistan) have been playing some good cricket, they’ve been playing here so they have a bit of an advantage. But we want to focus on what we need to do not them," Suryakumar said.
The logistical landscape of the 2026 T20 World Cup offers a fascinating contrast to the 2025 Champions Trophy. During that previous tournament, India played all their matches in the UAE and eventually secured the title, while Pakistan served as the primary co-host. At the time, critics suggested that India benefited from a more stable schedule, avoiding the frequent travel between Pakistan and the Emirates that other teams endured.
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I don’t know how it’s an advantage: Salman Ali Agha
However, Pakistan captain doesn't seen his team having any advantage over India.
“We are based here and play all matches in Colombo, but I don’t know how it’s an advantage. We are used to the climate, that’s all the advantage there is. You have to play good cricket for all 40 overs, else you can’t win. You have to execute your plans. Just because you are based here, it doesn’t mean you are going to win matches. We have to execute well, that’s what we will try and do," Agha said at the presser.