Former Team India player Rohan Gavaskar welcomed the restoration of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match, calling it a belated Valentine’s Day gift for the fans as well. However, the two arch-rivals were slated to play in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.

Reacting to Pakistan’s U-turn on the India clash, Gavaskar said on Cricbuzz: “All of us thought this game would go on, and it’s a belated Valentine’s Day present to the fans of both teams. It is still a rivalry and a big game that gets the juices flowing for the players and the fans. Now, when it gets the juices flowing, you set alarms on the phone, and everyone is talking about it, that tells you it’s a rivalry.”

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“It was anyway going to happen. This was just Pakistan playing as they wanted something. It was always about the revenue for them. India-Pakistan is a very big game even though Pakistan are not a great team like they used to be in the past. The game is crucial for the fans, players, and the broadcasters. So I am not surprised that they’ve backed out,” he again shared.

However, Rohan Gavaskar stated that Team India has the upper hand in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan. India have won their last five T20I clashes against Pakistan, including three in a row last year as well.

“In terms of performance over the last while, India has had the upper hand. But it’s not to say Pakistan can’t beat them. Yet, if India play to their potential and bring their A-game, they are a far superior side at the moment. But Abhishek Sharma could get out on the first ball, or he can score 170 to 180, we don’t know what’s going to happen. We scored 270 against New Zealand but collapsed against the USA. So on a bad day anything can happen,” Rohan Gavaskar concluded.