“I don’t want an India-Pakistan clash in the final” - Ravi Ashwin on T20 World Cup 2026 rivalry

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former Indian off-spinner, has stated that he is not interested in watching the reigning champions play Pakistan in a T20 World Cup 2026 knockout match.

Ashwin said he doesn't want to see the Men in Green play their bitter rivals in the knockout stages, although he acknowledges that India is two continents ahead of them in white-ball cricket.

The group-stage match took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15, and Suryakumar Yadav and company trounced Pakistan handily. The 2009 winners set a target of 176, but in an innings that lasted just 18 overs, they fell to 114 all out.

"I hope Pakistan doesn’t come into the final because this is a comprehensive loss for them. If they come in the final, maybe Pakistan might get their tactics slightly better. I don’t want an India-Pakistan clash in the final. I will take anybody else in the semis or final and don’t want Pakistan in the knockouts. On a given day and on a neutral platform, India is one or two continents ahead of Pakistan in white-ball cricket,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash ki baat.

Ishan Kishan made 77 runs in 40 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes, getting India to a good start despite losing Abhishek Sharma in the first over.

“I felt 175 was 250 on this pitch.” Ravi Ashwin says Pakistan erred by choosing to bowl first

Ashwin continued by saying that the sum of 175 was equal to 250 on that surface. He also made the amusing remark that if 20 more runs were expected, the Asian Giants may have forced a follow-on.

"Since Pakistan had loaded their team with spinners, I felt this was their best chance. The way Saim Ayub’s and Salman Ali Agha’s deliveries troubled Indian batters, I felt 175 was 250 on this pitch. I have an uncle, who messaged me, ‘174 is Babar Azam’s Aile.’ I wondered what game they were watching. It’s a follow-on enforcing wicket.

If follow-on has to be enforced in T20Is, this is the right pitch. It could’ve been enforced if 20 more runs were there. Pakistan was so much in trouble that they couldn’t handle the pressure. When Mohammad Nawaz was batting, Pakistan was five or six down. But the left-arm spinner is a match-up for you, but he defended both deliveries and was beaten once. If you play T20 cricket with such intent, it is very difficult,” Ashwin stated.

He also mentioned how Babar Azam's performance against Jasprit Bumrah has barely improved, asserting that Pakistan has the weaponry necessary to contend with the current global T20I champions.

"If you look at Babar Azam’s defense against Jasprit Bumrah, he hasn’t made a change even after Pakistan lost a year or two ago. The game in the USA saw him push at a delivery from Bumrah and get out. It was the same in this game as he played to third man, and the commentary said it was a typical Babar Azam glide. But no, you will be dismissed if you play that way every time.

Pakistan is not tactically better, and they don’t have the raw materials to challenge India. Plenty of runs will come if played on a flatter surface. I don’t know how it will be on turning wickets. Leave aside the rivalry. It is nice to have a game between them, but India is miles ahead. India is a couple of continents ahead currently,” Ashwin stated.

Pakistan will now need to defeat Namibia in their final Group A game on February 18.

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