Abhishek Sharma Pakistan match availability announced by opener himself

The India vs Pakistan match is always a blockbuster clash in any major ICC event. In the 2026 T20 World Cup, the two sides will be meeting on Sunday, 15th February, at the R Premedasa Stadium, Colombo. Ahead of the match, team India cricketer Abhishek Sharma, who missed out on the last game against Namibia, has shared a major health update.

Abhishek Sharma, who has been key to India’s change of template while playing the shortest format of the game post the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Southpaw gave the Men in Blue explosive starts and changed the course of the match during the power play. He had a decent record against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025.

Abhishek Sharma to feature against Pakistan?

Abhishek did not have the best start to his T20 World Cup campaign, being dismissed for a duck in the very first game against the USA. He did not even take the field during the game. The flamboyant opener has been suffering from stomach issues, which occurred during India’s opening game. He is still to recover fully, but in two days, India would want him to play against Pakistan.

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Abhishek, after India’s thumping win by 93 runs against Namibia, shared his update on his health. He featured in a video shared by Arshdeep on social media, where the opener was asked about his health, weight loss, and diet. In the video, Abhishek stated that he still follows a strict dal and rice diet.

Update on Abhishek Sharma by Arshdeep Singh, good to know he’s doing good 😄 pic.twitter.com/MbvOzMChmg

— 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 (@ManishSRH) February 12, 2026

India still assessing Abhishek Sharma

Furthermore, the opening batter stated that he has dropped 2kg since being hospitalised with a stomach problem. Abhishek Sharma left Gautam Gambhir’s house after not feeling well, while the Men in Blue were invited to a team dinner in Delhi ahead of Namibia’s game. He went straight to the hospital and was treated for acute gastroenteritis and dehydration.

Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav, during the toss against Namibia, shared an update on the opener, stating that he is "still not fine" and might miss a game or two, suggesting the team may prioritise his long-term recovery over rushing him back for the next fixture or two. His weakness was clearly seen during the Namibia game when his glimpses were shown while he was sitting in the dressing room.

Sanju Samson to open against Pakistan?

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy expressed confidence after seeing him back in the nets. A final decision would most likely be based on his performance at the final pre-match training session in Colombo, as the Men in Blue, who might have just secured a place in the Super 8s, will not risk it if he is not fully fit against Salman Ali Agha’s side.

In case Abhishek Sharma does not get fit on time, Sanju Samson, who opened against Namibia alongside Ishan Kishan, as the former looked in good touch, will continue to open. India will be travelling to Colombo today as the match is scheduled in two days. The Men in Blue want to have some time to assess the weather and the conditions.

India is on a 5-match winning streak against the Men in Green across all competitions. They would want to extend their 7-1 record against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup to make it 8-1 on Sunday.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav praises Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan after win over Namibia