Rain could disrupt Sunday evening’s highly anticipated Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup 2026 match in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology has warned that a low-pressure system developing in the Bay of Bengal may bring heavy showers to the city.
The forecast for Sunday in the Khettarama area of Colombo, home to R Premadasa Stadium, calls for warm and humid conditions early in the day, with temperatures expected to reach 30–31°C. Scattered thunderstorms are predicted throughout the afternoon, with a 50–70% chance of rain.
With the match scheduled to begin at 7 pm local time, some weather models suggest heavy thundershowers in the hours leading up to the start. This could delay the toss or shorten the game.
While clouds are expected to remain in the evening, certain forecasts indicate a slight clearing trend after 8 pm, though isolated showers may continue overnight.
Despite the threat of rain, R Premadasa Stadium is well equipped to handle tropical downpours. The venue has a sophisticated drainage system and specialized ground staff protocols designed specifically for Colombo’s climate.
Unlike many international stadiums that cover only the pitch, Premadasa has enough covers to protect the entire playing area, preventing the outfield from absorbing water.
Moreover, ground staff manually push water from one cover to another until it reaches the perimeter drains. This method is often faster and more effective than using mechanical super soppers. Under normal conditions, the field is typically ready for play within 45 to 60 minutes after heavy rain stops.
Rain is also expected on Saturday, today, which could disrupt India’s scheduled training session at the ground.
Colombo’s weather has otherwise been largely dry, making the potential rainfall somewhat unseasonal for this time of year. So far, none of the T20 World Cup matches played in Sri Lanka have been affected by bad weather, although there have been close calls, including Sri Lanka’s match against Oman, when rain was forecast but arrived hours after the game ended.
India and Pakistan both enter Sunday’s match with four points from two games. India currently leads Group A due to a superior net run rate of 3.050 compared to Pakistan’s 0.932. If rain forces a washout, both teams will receive one point each, as there is no reserve day for group-stage matches.