When India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav urged teammates not to sledge Pakistan

India T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav urged his teammates to steer clear of on-field sledging during their high-profile clash against Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The message was simple- let performance, not words, dictate the contest.

In a behind-the-scenes clip shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Suryakumar was seen reminding his players to remain composed and channel their energy into skill execution rather than verbal duels. He emphasised maintaining intensity between overs and focusing purely on playing quality cricket to secure victory.

The fixture came amid pre-match tension, with reports suggesting Pakistan had briefly considered withdrawing before the International Cricket Council stepped in. Despite lingering friction- including India’s continuation of their no-handshake stance - the game itself unfolded without confrontation.

India’s dominance was evident from the outset. Ishan Kishan delivered a scintillating 77 off just 40 deliveries, laying a strong foundation for a competitive total of 175. Pakistan struggled in response, unable to build sustained partnerships against a disciplined Indian attack.

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The bowling unit shared the spoils, with Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel picking up two wickets apiece. Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 114, sealing a convincing 61-run triumph for India.

The emphatic result further strengthened India’s superiority in T20 World Cup meetings, pushing their head-to-head record to 8–1. The comprehensive win also confirmed India’s progression to the Super 8 stage, reinforcing their status as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.