'India ahead of Pakistan': Former Sri Lanka player gives Huge Verdict before IND vs PAK T20 World Cup clash

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The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo is set to captivate millions of cricket fans around the globe and former Sri Lankan captain Chamara Kapugedera has spoken about the pre-match analysis.

Speaking ahead of the blockbuster Group A fixture, Kapugedera stressed that it's a special occasion for the sport and believes India hold a slight edge over Pakistan despite both teams entering the match in strong form. He described the match as a massive moment for Sri Lanka's cricket and its fans.

"I'm really happy that everything worked out, and the game is going to happen. It's a good thing for Sri Lanka cricket, Sri Lanka fans and fans all over the world, two cricket giants are playing in a World Cup. Sri Lanka is lucky enough to host two of the great teams, great rivals in Sri Lanka. Hopefully, we'll have a big battle on Sunday. India obviously have an edge. But the way Pakistan is playing, the way they played against the USA, it's not going to be an easy win or easy game. I think it's going to go down the wire and hopefully we can see a great game against India-Pakistan again," Kapugedera said to ANI.

Abhishek Sharma: Potential Game-Changer

Kapugedera also highlighted the importance of left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma to India's title hopes, dubbing him a key figure in the batting line-up. As Kapugedera said to ANI about Sharma's role:

"I think Abhishek Sharma is a big player in this tournament going forward because last year, Abhishek was the one who was carrying India's batting from the top. The starts he gave made it possible to go and reach those high numbers when they're batting first or when they're chasing to chase down the scores easily. So Abhishek Sharma being in the team will make a big difference, and I think he will be a star performer if he plays the Pakistan game,
"Sharma's explosive play and role at the top could tilt momentum in favour of India, especially in a high-pressure clash where every over counts.

Semi-Final Predictions

Apart from the India vs Pakistan fixture, Kapugedera shared his forecast for the World Cup's later stages, naming India, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa as his likely semi-finalists.