Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has been candid about the unique pressure that an India vs Pakistan clash brings, urging his side to balance intensity with calm as they prepare to meet at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. The marquee Group A fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 carries more than two points — it delivers momentum, national expectation and a possible direct route into the Super Eights.

Babar acknowledged Pakistan’s recent struggles in multinational events but refused to let past records dictate the game plan. “These matches come with a feverish expectation from both sets of fans and the whole world watches you. That pressure is different, but if you keep your head and play your natural game, you give yourself the best chance,” he told ESPNcricinfo, stressing focus and composure over panic.

Form has been a talking point for Babar. After a subdued Big Bash stint, he looked more comfortable in Pakistan’s opener with a 46 against the Netherlands but then fell cheaply to the USA — a sequence that has renewed debate about consistency at the top. Still, the skipper’s message is simple: the contest will be won on the field by the side that manages expectation and executes plans under heat.

🎙️ Babar Azam on the highly anticipated match against India pic.twitter.com/QVhSUueuUY

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 14, 2026

The stakes are clear. The winner of the Colombo clash will put one foot in the Super Eights with one group match to spare. On paper, India lead Group A with four points and an imposing net run rate, while Pakistan sit level on points but trail on NRR — a small margin that makes this meeting pivotal for both teams’ trajectories.

Tactically, expect the game to be a chess match: spin versus power, measured singles on big grounds and mental resilience when the crowd noise spikes. Babar’s plea for calm is as much psychological as practical. In a fixture that can hinge on a single moment, the team that marries skill with composure will almost always find a way.