Tangled in green: How Pakistan's spin cycle could trap India in the big rivals clash:
T20 World Cup: Pakistan's spin attack has found its perfect stage in Colombo. With five wicket-takers and India's batters struggling on spicy tracks, the rivals might finally have a weapon that could do some damage.
Usman Tariq's run-up is a study in deception. He approaches the crease like Bruno Fernandes approaches a penalty—stop, stutter, wait. The batter commits. The ball doesn't. It hangs, dips, turns, and by the time the strokemaker realises what's happened, the stumps are rattled or the edge is found. Since March 24, 2025, against Faisalabad, Tariq hasn't gone a single match without taking a wicket. 23 consecutive games. 23 times he's made someone look foolish.
Two games into the T20 World Cup, Pakistan sit unbeaten atop Group A. They've survived the Netherlands with last-gasp heroics and dismantled the USA with clinical efficiency. Both wins came in Colombo, where the R Premadasa Stadium pitch had something to offer for the spinners.
THE CHAMP IS HERE
The defending champions arrive in Colombo on February 15 with history on their side—13 wins in 16 T20 meetings, including seven of eight at World Cups.
But for the first time in years, Pakistan might have found India's vulnerability: a pitch that grips and turns, spinners who know exactly how to exploit it, and an Indian batting order that looked fragile before Suryakumar Yadav's rescue act against the USA.
In T20 cricket, where one bad over can flip everything, Pakistan's five-man spin attack could finally tangle India in green.
THE WEB PAKISTAN SPUN
Tariq isn't alone. Pakistan's spin attack has quietly become one of the most lethal forces in T20 cricket since the 2024 World Cup final. Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz have claimed 47 wickets a piece, in that span. Saim Ayub has 26. Add Shadab Khan, fresh off an all-round masterclass against the USA, and suddenly Pakistan can field five spinners who've been hunting wickets.
The numbers tell the story of Pakistan's resurgence. Since that 2024 final, they've won 29 of 49 matches—not far behind India's 32 wins in 42 games among full member nations.
They've learned from their Asia Cup mistakes, built depth, and found a formula that works in subcontinental conditions. In Colombo, where they've been training for two weeks while India were finishing their group stage elsewhere, that formula has found its perfect testing ground.
INDIA'S ACHILLES HEEL
"It's going to be a challenge going to Colombo, where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks," admitted Ryan ten Doeschate, India's assistant coach. The concession was small, almost grudging. But it was there.
India's opening match against the USA exposed cracks that Suryakumar's brilliance papered over. On a spicy Wankhede pitch, India's batters struggled badly before their talisman's unbeaten 84 rescued them to a 29-run win.
Man for man, India still looks stronger. But T20 cricket doesn't work on paper comparisons. It works on moments, on conditions, on who handles pressure when the ball starts doing things batters don't expect.
Pakistan's spinners have made careers out of creating those moments. On turning tracks, against strokemakers who want to dominate, they've become executioners. India's aggressive batting style—built on taking risks early and often—could walk straight into the trap.
THE MOMENTUM SHIFT
Confidence built on track record matters. India have earned their favourites tag through years of dominance over Pakistan. But momentum has a way of mattering more in tournaments, and right now, Pakistan have it. Two wins. A settled bowling attack. Home conditions. And perhaps most dangerously, belief.
The boycott controversy that threatened to derail their tournament will be behind them. Pakistan know they have a weapon that works, and they're facing an opponent that might not be ready for it.
When Tariq begins his stuttering run-up on February 15, when Abrar tosses the ball up and watches it grip, when Nawaz slides one past the outside edge, India will face a question they haven't had to answer in years: what happens when Pakistan actually have the advantage?
History says India finds a way. But in Colombo's spin-friendly cauldron, history might finally meet its match if the champions are not on top of their game.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan's spin attack has found its perfect stage in Colombo. With five wicket-takers and India's batters struggling on spicy tracks, the rivals might finally have a weapon that could do some damage.
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vs Taj Mahal 
but not really invested as much into player performances outside of Saim and Farhan special who I guess have now become the torch carrier from Fakhar and before whom was supposed to be Sharjeel… but alas..
should play
