T20 WC 2026: 5 Players to watch out for in India vs Pakistan game

India vs Pakistan at a T20 World Cup is more than a match. It’s an event where individual performances can turn into instant legend. For the February 2026 blockbuster, there are several players who can stand out as the ones who can swing the game, but here we list five of those. Each player brings a different weapon, and different ways they can affect the outcome of the game. 

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1. Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek has become one of the most feared openers in the T20s. His ability to crush the powerplay overs and then either carry on or rotate the strike makes him a dual threat as he can blast the scoreboard early or absorb and reset, depending on the day. 

Abhishek’s IPL seasons have shown extreme strike rates and huge boundaries-per-over spells that force bowling plans to change from ball one. India’s top-order shape benefits massively when he’s in rhythm and Pakistan’s new-ball plans must account for his early hitting. There’s one caveat: reports around the tournament flagged a recent hospitalisation and fitness check, so his availability and freshness are something to watch closely before the toss.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s value in T20 knockouts is almost impossible to overstate. His yorkers, seam-disguises and ability to bowl the overs under pressure make him India’s primary specialist for both powerplay and death overs. 

Against Pakistan’s batting line-up, Bumrah’s discipline of hitting blockholes, mixing slower balls and changing lengths, is the best tool India has to stem quick scoring bursts. He’s the man who turns tight chases into defendable targets and historically, he has been simply great against the Pakistani team, not letting them get away with the match easily.

3. Sahibzada Farhan

Sahibzada Farhan is the kind of hitter who arrives in bursts. Quick, powerful cameos that either consolidate a rebuild or explode an innings into a chase. He’s not always the headline name, but Farhan’s aggressive instincts and ability to clear the rope off good length balls make him particularly dangerous against spin and when bowlers try to choke the middle overs. 

In India vs Pakistan games, where scoring windows can be few and far between, a 10–12 ball blitz from a player like Farhan can instantly flip momentum, and Pakistan will bank on that potential. He had played a crucial role for Pakistan in their encounters in the Asia Cup.

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4. Hardik Pandya 

Hardik is India’s classic two-way match-winner as he can smash the late overs and still contribute three tidy seam overs when required. In high-pressure India–Pakistan matches, that combination is gold. 

His finishing hitting, the ability to clear boundaries when required, strips the pressure off the middle order, while his bowling, when executed, gives the captain flexible options to protect front-line seamers or sneak a wicket in the middle. Expect Hardik to be used as both a tempo setter with the bat and a tactical bowling option, especially if the game narrows to a close finish.

5. Tilak Varma

Tilak is the player who balances aggression with application. His skill against spin, ability to rotate strike, and capacity to switch into an acceleration gear make him ideal for subcontinental conditions and tournament pressure. 

In India vs Pakistan matches, where there is tons of pressure and the middle overs often decide chaseability, Tilak’s role could be pivotal in steadying the innings after a breakthrough or launching a selective assault that forces bowlers to alter lines. He’s the sort of batter who won’t necessarily demolish the scoreboard in one burst but will craft a decisive innings by controlling phases.

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