Ishan Kishan urged to deliver big innings ahead of India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup showdown
India head into a marquee T20 World Cup meeting with Pakistan buoyed by two wins, and all eyes are on wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan after his coach called for a match-defining performance. The contest, match 27 of the tournament, will be played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Coach issues a rallying cry: ‘‘Score for the nation’’
Uttam Mazumdar, who coaches Ishan Kishan, framed the fixture as more than a single game and urged Kishan to rise to the occasion. On February 15, 2026 (ET), Mazumdar underlined the emotional weight attached to the match and encouraged the player to embrace a leading role.
"This is incredibly exciting, because it's not just for us, the Indian team. The entire 1. 5 billion Indians, the soldiers who observed the Black Day on February 14 for the Pulwama tragedy, we will dedicate everything to them because no one will ever forget that incident. This is beyond just one match, " Mazumdar said, stressing that the fixture carries national pride and meaning beyond sport.
He added that he expects Ishan to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma and said he personally urged Kishan in a video call to aim for a century. Mazumdar described the day as a potential milestone for both the batter and Team India, conveying confidence that the side led by Suryakumar Yadav can produce a dominant display.
Match context, squad notes and family voices
The build-up to the encounter has been charged. India sit top of Group A with four points and a Net Run Rate of +3. 050 after wins over the United States and Namibia. Pakistan have matched India with two victories, over the Netherlands and the USA, and hold a Net Run Rate of +0. 932.
India’s squad for the match includes Ishan Kishan (w), Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar. Pakistan’s lineup features a mix of established names and promising talents.
Beyond the coaching message, family support has also stepped into the spotlight. Neha Singh, sister of batter Rinku Singh, expressed hope that her brother will play a match-winning innings full of boundaries. Her optimism mirrors the wider mood among travelling supporters, one of whom said they had come from Mumbai confident India would win convincingly.
What to expect from Ishan Kishan
Asked to open, Kishan would carry the responsibility of setting the tone against a potent Pakistan attack that includes both pace and spin threats. The coach’s call for a century is both a vote of confidence and a clear tactical pointer: an aggressive start could unsettle the opposition and free the middle order to accelerate later.
For Kishan, the fixture offers an opportunity to cement his standing on the global stage. Delivering a big score in a high-pressure India–Pakistan match can be career-defining; it also aligns with the team’s need for brisk starts to fuel its Net Run Rate ambitions in a crowded group.
With national pride and momentum on the line, all attention will be on Kishan and the Indian top order when the teams take the field in Colombo.
