India captain Suryakumar Yadav continued with the “no handshake” stance at the toss during the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan, keeping the spotlight firmly on cricket’s most debated off-field subplot. Reports prior to the match indicated that Team India would stick to its earlier position, and the visuals at the toss confirmed it.
On the eve of the game, Suryakumar Kumar had played down the controversy. “Wait for 24 hours. We are here to play cricket, have good food and sleep,” he said, attempting to shift focus back to the contest itself. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha responded diplomatically, reiterating that cricket should be played in the right spirit while leaving the final call to India.
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Beyond the handshake narrative, team selection grabbed equal attention. India welcomed back Abhishek Sharma, who had missed the previous game in New Delhi due to illness. The team management also brought in Kuldeep Yadav, strengthening the spin department, with Arshdeep Singh making way. Earlier in the tournament, Abhishek had been replaced by Sanju Samson, while Jasprit Bumrah returned for Mohammed Siraj. The BCCI had confirmed that Abhishek was under medical supervision before being cleared to return.
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Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first, citing tacky surface conditions expected to aid bowlers early on. Agha described the pitch as slower and suited to disciplined bowling, while insisting his side remained relaxed despite the enormity of the occasion. Pakistan retained the same XI, backing continuity over experimentation.
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With selection calls settled and the toss drama unfolding under global scrutiny, the contest once again proved that India vs Pakistan is never just about cricket. It is about narratives, pressure, and moments that transcend the boundary rope — where every gesture, every change, and every decision carries weight far beyond the scoreboard.
Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
