Installation India vs Pakistan blockbuster T20 World Cup 2026 made a dramatic turnaround and the former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly measured by trademark clarity. Ganguly reacted to Pakistan’s decision to reverse its earlier boycott stance against India, calling the development a positive step for the game and stressing that cricket should take precedence over political conflicts.
After about two weeks of uncertainty Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) eventually reached a consensus, paving the way for Pakistan to take the field against India on February 15. The green signal from the Pakistani government put an end to the speculation and ensured that the marquee clash went ahead as planned.
Sourav Ganguly shares his thoughts on Pakistan’s turnaround
Speaking on the issue, Ganguly made it clear that while he was not privy to the behind-the-scenes political discussions, the result was more important to cricket fans around the world. He welcomed the confirmation of the match and reiterated that India-Pakistan matches have always held a special place in sports.
“I don’t really know all this – what’s happening at the government level or why it’s happening. But the match is happening and that’s a good thing. Sport is different – sport and politics are different.” Ganguly said. He added that the rivalry has historically produced memorable contests and hopes the upcoming game will live up to that legacy.
However, the former BCCI president also offered an honest assessment of the current balance between the two sides. According to Ganguly, Pakistan will have to do their best to challenge a dominant Indian team.
“To play against India you have to play very well – India is a very strong team” he noted, emphasizing the standards required for the competition to be competitive.
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India’s dominance increases the pressure on Pakistan
Ganguly’s comments come in the wake of India’s commanding record against Pakistan in T20 internationals. India have won 12 of the 16 T20Is played between the two sides, with one match ending in a draw. Looking at recent history, the numbers are even more skewed.
Since 5 September 2022, India have remained unbeaten across formats against the Men in Green. During this period, India have won eight of the nine matches played between the arch-rivals, with one match drawing no results. More surprisingly, the last seven encounters that have ended have all gone India’s way, highlighting the gulf between the two teams.
Pakistan’s last international win over the Men in Blue came during this period Asian Cup Clash in Dubai on September 4, 2022. Since then, momentum, confidence and results have consistently favored India, making the upcoming T20 World Cup match a key test for Pakistan’s rebuilding side.
