Ind vs Pak refers to the India–Pakistan cricket rivalry, one of the most watched contests in world sports.
The two teams now meet almost exclusively at ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup, since bilateral series stopped years ago.
The next confirmed Ind vs Pak clash is at the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Key Takeaways
- India and Pakistan no longer play bilateral cricket series; they only meet at ICC events and the Asia Cup.
- The next Ind vs Pak match is February 15, 2026, at the T20 World Cup, played in Colombo.
- Pakistan leads the all-time head-to-head record overall, mostly from Test and ODI matches played before 2000.
- India has never lost to Pakistan in an ODI World Cup match.
- India won the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
When Is the Next Ind vs Pak Match?
The next Ind vs Pak fixture is set for February 15, 2026, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, during the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. India and Pakistan were drawn into the same group, alongside the USA and Namibia.
The 2026 T20 World Cup runs from February 7 to March 8 and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Because of the ongoing political sensitivities between the two boards, Pakistan is playing all of its group matches in Sri Lanka either Colombo or Kandy rather than in India, under a hybrid hosting arrangement both boards had already agreed to.
If both teams advance past the group stage, there’s a chance they could meet again in the Super Eight or the final, though those stages are not guaranteed.
Why India and Pakistan Rarely Play Each Other Anymore
This is one of the most common questions people have when they search “Ind vs Pak.” Unlike most major cricket nations, India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral Test, ODI, or T20I series against each other in over a decade.
The reason is political, not cricketing. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have made it impractical for either board to schedule home-and-away tours. Instead, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to a hybrid model: the two teams only face off when a multi-nation ICC tournament or the Asia Cup puts them in the same group, and any matches are played at a neutral venue rather than in either country.
That’s why every recent Ind vs Pak match, the 2025 Asia Cup games, the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups have taken place somewhere other than India or Pakistan.
Ind vs Pak Head-to-Head Record
Because India and Pakistan have faced off in three different formats across more than 70 years, the overall head-to-head picture looks different depending on which format you’re looking at.
Test Record
Pakistan holds the stronger position in Test cricket, largely built during the 1970s through 1990s when the two sides played regularly. The rivalry began with a Test series in 1952, and Test matches between them have become rare since bilateral tours stopped.
ODI Record
Pakistan also leads the overall ODI head-to-head count, again a legacy of the heavy playing schedule in the 1980s and 1990s, much of it contested at neutral venues like Sharjah.
T20I Record
T20 internationals tell a different story. Since the format took off, India has generally had the upper hand, including recent wins at the 2025 Asia Cup.
| Format | Historical Trend |
| Test | Pakistan leads |
| ODI | Pakistan leads overall |
| T20I | India leads |
| ICC Tournaments | India leads |
India vs Pakistan in ICC World Cups
This is where the rivalry flips in India’s favor. India has never lost to Pakistan in an ODI Cricket World Cup match, a streak that dates back to the tournament’s earliest editions. That unbeaten record is one of the most talked-about facts whenever the two teams are drawn into the same World Cup group.
India has also generally dominated recent T20 World Cup meetings, including a tense, low-scoring win at the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York. At the 2025 Asia Cup, India beat Pakistan three times across the tournament, including the final a result that added fresh intensity to the build-up for their 2026 World Cup meeting.
Where to Watch Ind vs Pak in the USA
Ind vs Pak matches consistently draw some of the largest cricket television audiences in the United States, often outperforming other sports in the same time slot. For the 2026 T20 World Cup, US fans can expect the match to be carried by the tournament’s official broadcast and streaming partners for North America. Because the February 15 match is being played in Colombo, the start time will fall in the morning or early afternoon for most US time zones; check the official ICC broadcast schedule closer to the date for exact local timings.
What Makes the Ind vs Pak Rivalry So Big?
A few things set this rivalry apart from any other in cricket:
- Shared history, political tension. The two nations split at independence in 1947, and cricket has carried that weight ever since.
- Scarcity. Because they play so rarely, each match feels like an event rather than a routine fixture.
- Massive global audience. Ind vs Pak matches are among the most-watched sporting events on the planet, regularly drawing hundreds of millions of viewers.
- Unpredictability. Despite one side often being favored on paper, these matches have a long history of producing upsets and nerve-wracking finishes.
FAQs
Why don’t India and Pakistan play bilateral cricket anymore?
Political tensions between the two countries led both boards to stop scheduling home-and-away series. They now only meet at ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup, always at neutral venues.
What is the head-to-head record between India and Pakistan?
Pakistan leads the all-time record in Tests and ODIs, largely from matches played before 2000. India leads in T20Is and has a perfect record against Pakistan in ODI World Cups.
When is the next Ind vs Pak match?
February 15, 2026, at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Where can I watch Ind vs Pak in the USA?
Through the official broadcast and streaming partners of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for North America.
Has India ever lost to Pakistan in a World Cup?
In the ODI Cricket World Cup India has an unbeaten record against Pakistan in that tournament. India has lost to Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches in past editions, though recent meetings have gone India’s way.
Conclusion
Ind vs Pak remains the biggest draw in world cricket, even though the two teams now meet far less often than fans would like.
With bilateral series off the table, every encounter if at the Asia Cup or an ICC World Cup carries extra weight.
The February 15, 2026 clash in Colombo is the next chance to see this rivalry play out, and given India’s strong recent run against Pakistan, including the 2025 Asia Cup final win, expectations will be high heading into the T20 World Cup group stage.
If the result, Ind vs Pak will once again be the most-watched match of the tournament.
Avery Smilez is a creative writer at EmojiSpotz.com, sharing fun and updated content about emoji meanings, trends, and digital expressions to make every conversation more expressive.
