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Bihar Minister Predicts India's Win Over Pakistan in T20 WC Clash

Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary expressed strong confidence in India's victory over Pakistan in their T20 World Cup match, while also urging people not to compare the sporting contest to war. The match continues the recent 'no handshake' tradition between the teams, stemming from geopolitical tensions, with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav not shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart at the toss. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first in the Group A clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India holds a dominant 7-1 record against Pakistan in T20 World Cup history.

Key Points: India vs Pakistan T20 WC: Minister Predicts Win, No Handshake

  • Minister confident of India's win
  • Urges not to equate sport with war
  • 'No handshake' tradition continues
  • India leads T20 WC head-to-head 7-1
  • Pakistan opts to bowl in Colombo clash
2 min read

"India will win": Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary on India-Pakistan match in T20 WC

Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary backs India to beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup, as 'no handshake' tradition continues between the rival teams.

"India will win... How can you compare a match to a war... - Ashok Choudhary"

Patna, February 15

Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary on Sunday expressed confidence in India's victory against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, asserting that the Indian team would emerge triumphant in the high-voltage clash.

"Congratulations to the Indian team. India will win... How can you compare a match to a war... Do we have to keep fighting all our lives or move forward...," Choudhary said, urging people not to compare sporting contests with war and calling for a forward-looking approach despite tensions between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav maintained the status quo 'on the handshaking' tradition with Pakistan, as he did not extend his hand to the Men in Green skipper, Salman Agha, during the toss in match 27 of the ongoing tournament in Colombo.

Following the attack in Pahalgam in April last year and rising tensions between the two nations, the senior Indian men's cricket team had refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan players before or after matches throughout the Asia Cup 2025 trilogy.

This 'no handshake' trend continued in subsequent encounters between India and Pakistan in various ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments, including the Asia Cup Rising Stars and the Under-19 Cricket World Cup matches.

In the ongoing Group A clash at the R Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first.

After winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said, "We want to bowl first. It looks a bit tacky, so we feel it will assist the bowlers for the first few overs, so we want to use that. We are relaxed in our group and excited for this challenge. Bigger ground than SSC, and the pitch is slower than SSC. Same team for us."

Suryakumar said India was prepared to bat first. "Not at all, we were looking to bat first. We won the last two games defending, so we don't want to change it. It is an occasion, it's a high-stakes game. This sport teaches you a lot of things; any side can win the game on a given day. Two changes. Abhishek Sharma comes in, and Kuldeep Yadav is in for Arshdeep Singh," he said.

India and Pakistan have faced each other eight times in T20 World Cup history, with India winning seven matches and Pakistan securing one victory.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Respectfully, I disagree with the minister making such statements. Politicians should focus on governance, not cricket predictions. It unnecessarily raises the political temperature around a sporting event.
V
Vikram M
The no-handshake policy sends a strong message. After what happened in Pahalgam, some things are bigger than sportsmanship. Jai Hind! Let's focus on winning the match.
P
Priya S
Surya's calmness is key! "Any side can win on a given day" – that's the spirit. We have the stats (7-1!), but overconfidence can be dangerous. Just play good cricket, boys! 💙
R
Rohit P
As a cricket fan first, I miss the old days of friendly rivalry. The tension is palpable now. Hope the focus remains on the game. Batting first is a good decision on this Colombo pitch.
K
Kavya N
Abhishek Sharma in, Arshdeep out! Bold move. Hope it pays off. The whole country will be watching. No pressure! 😅 Come on, Team India!

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