Sahibzada Farhan throws open challenge to Suryakumar Yadav & Co. ahead of IND vs PAK clash

Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan, who excelled at the top of the batting order for them, has issued a stern warning ahead of their upcoming clash against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Despite India having defeated them brutally over the years, the batter doesn’t expect it to be a one-sided affair.

Pakistan were reluctant to come into this edition of the World Cup, after the diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh led to Bangladesh being expelled from the ICC T20 World Cup. Pakistan have made a winning start to the edition with two wins against the Netherlands and the USA and are well within the opportunity to advance to the Super-8 stage.

Sahibzada Farhan was the highest scorer for Pakistan against the USA, as the Men in Green managed to defeat the US side, who had formerly defeated them back in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Farhan, on the other hand, is the highest run-scorer in this edition of the tournament.

Sahibzada Farhan warns India of a competitive game in the T20 World Cup

The last time India and Pakistan clashed was in the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan clashed against each other in three games, which also included the Asia Cup Final.

“I think the way we played in the last Asia Cup, we didn’t play one-sided. We played and fought till the end. We didn’t play a one-sided match till then end and hopefully this time against them we’ll play a wonderful game,” said Farhan.

“We won’t put it in our head that this is an India–Pakistan match,” Farhan said

Throwing a major challenge to the Indians and also having the advantage of playing multiple games at the venue where the match is being scheduled, Farhan has pointed out that the India vs Pakistan game would be treated just as a normal game for them.

“I think when you make runs, you are confident. I am also very confident and the way the last two innings have gone, I’m very confident. It’s a normal match. We’ll play like a normal match. We won’t put it in our heads that this is an India–Pakistan match; it is a normal match and we will play it like a normal match,” said Sahibzada Farhan.

Pakistan have been prioritising the game way too much, as a result of which their players have been feeling the immense pressure. However, this time, having won two matches already and their last match being scheduled against Namibia, Pakistan can make it through to the next stage irrespective of the results of this game; hence, they are largely relieved.

Sahibzada Farhan’s impressive record against India

Sahibzada Farhan, the opening batter for Pakistan, has been a superstar at the top of the batting order. Farhan has a very impressive record for India in the Asia Cup, as he seemed the only batsman who could fire against India, while the rest of the Pakistan players were dismissed cheaply.

Farhan’s most impressive record lies in the 155 runs he scored against India in three matches, which comprised two half-centuries coming at an average of 51.67 and a strike rate of nearly 140. He tackled Jasprit Bumrah well and managed to hit him for sixes during their Asia Cup match.

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