India’s cricket team is heading to Pakistan. Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed on February 4 that the team’s flights are booked for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2026 fixture against Pakistan. This comes after weeks of speculation and reported boycott threats from some players.
The match, set for March 1 in Lahore, Pakistan, marks the first major bilateral series event there since 2008. Yadav spoke about the situation in Mumbai, easing worries about player participation and the political tensions surrounding the game. He’s making his captaincy debut in a multi-nation ICC event.
Green Light for Lahore: Flights Booked
Yadav put all the rumors to rest. “Flights are booked, we’ve got the green signal,” he told reporters. He added, “No one’s backing out; we’re focused on the game.”
This confirmation follows a lot of back-and-forth. The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, had said on February 3, “All logistical arrangements finalized post-government approval. Team travels as one unit,” according to a BCCI official statement. The Indian government gave the go-ahead for travel visas just the day before Yadav’s presser. That was quick work.
There were reports, apparently, of 4-5 senior players having reservations. Concerns about security and visas were big. But the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, guaranteed security, saying it’s “foolproof.” He’s expecting over 20,000 personnel on duty.
Return to Rivalry: India vs Pakistan in Lahore
The match itself is a huge deal. It’s India against Pakistan in Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy 2026. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host it. And it’s the first time these two nations have played a major bilateral series match in Pakistan since 2008. The stadium capacity is 27,000, and it’s going to be packed.
This match is a big money spinner, projected at over $50 million in revenue for broadcasters. Over a billion people globally are expected to watch. That kind of viewership is massive.
Historically, in ICC ODI events, India has a slight edge over Pakistan, winning 8 of 15 encounters. India’s win percentage sits at 53.3%. Their recent form is also good, India being unbeaten in their last five ICC white-ball matches, including the 2025 World Cup semi-finals. Pakistan won three of their last five.
Squad Shake-Up and Key Players
Suryakumar Yadav leads the 15-member squad. Rohit Sharma is out due to injury, which is a blow. Yadav taking the captaincy for an ICC multi-nation event is a big moment for him.
Key players in the squad include opener Shubman Gill, who’s piled on 1,200 ODI runs since 2024. Jasprit Bumrah is there too; he’s a leading pacer with 25 wickets in his last eight ODIs. India’s ODI form in their last ten games shows W7 L2 T1, averaging scores of 320. Pakistan averages around 290 in their recent games.
The Champions Trophy is a quadrennial 50-over tournament, with eight teams. India, which won the 2025 T20 World Cup, is in Group A with Pakistan, England, and Bangladesh.
The ICC approved a hybrid model for the tournament back on December 15, 2025, with some matches in Pakistan and others in neutral venues like the UAE. This hybrid model was set up to make sure everyone participates, as ICC CEO Geoff Allardice noted, “no disruptions expected.”
Anticipation Builds for a High-Stakes Clash
All the political and logistical hurdles seem cleared. The focus now shifts to the cricket. The tension is real, not just on the field but for the fans who’ve waited years for this. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Geo TV said, “We welcome India; flights and accommodations confirmed.”
It’s going to be a huge day for cricket, no doubt. The next few weeks will be all about team preparations for what is arguably the biggest rivalry in the sport. The stage is set for March 1 in Lahore.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Priyanjan Paul