New Delhi, Feb 13: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has cautioned Team India not to underestimate their high profile T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan on February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Despite India being favourites on paper, Sharma emphasized that rankings and past records offer no guarantees in the unpredictable world of T20 cricket.
Favourites Don’t Guarantee Victory
Speaking at an event in Dubai, Rohit Sharma said, “I never believed in this word called favourites. Cricket is such a funny game, and all teams now have immense exposure to T20 cricket. You can’t just think it’s a two-point victory for us. You have to play good cricket on that particular day, or you could end up going home without anything.”
He stressed that current form, reputation, or historical performance won’t ensure success, urging players to focus on executing well during the match itself.
Key to Beating Pakistan
India have dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cups and recent T20Is, winning the last five encounters and losing only once in the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, Rohit highlighted that any team can win on a given day in T20 cricket, making mental preparation and match day performance crucial.
“So it’s not about what you’ve done in the past, or whether players are in form or out of form. Every team is capable of beating any other team on that particular day,” he added.
High Stakes in Colombo
The upcoming clash is expected to draw massive attention, with both teams looking to secure crucial points in the tournament. Rohit’s warning underscores the importance of focus, discipline, and executing strategies under pressure to maintain India’s winning record against Pakistan in T20 cricket.