The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch is a flat, hard batting surface, and the PAK vs SL 3rd T20I on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, is expected to be another high-scoring game. Both matches of this series have been played on the same ground, and both produced 180-plus totals. With dew setting in during the second innings, 190 to 200 looks like a par score, and the team winning the toss is likely to bowl first. The match starts at 6:00 PM local time (6:30 PM IST).
Pakistan have already won the three-match series 2-0 and will be looking for a clean sweep under new captain Sahibzada Farhan. They chased 183 with seven balls to spare in the opener, then piled up 215/3 in the second match to win by 82 runs. Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, will want to end the tour with a win.
Rawalpindi Pitch Report for PAK vs SL 3rd T20I
| Factor | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pitch type | Flat and hard, with true bounce |
| Par first-innings score | 190 to 200 |
| Fast bowlers | Some pace and carry early, little movement after the powerplay |
| Spinners | Can control the middle overs, but grip is limited once dew arrives |
| Dew | Heavy in the second innings |
| Toss advantage | Bowl first |
Phase-by-Phase Pitch Behaviour
| Phase | How the Pitch Is Likely to Play |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1 to 6) | Ball comes on nicely; good time to attack |
| Middle overs (7 to 15) | Wrist spinners and cutters can slow scoring a little |
| Death overs (16 to 20) | Hard to defend; batters can hit through the line |
| Second innings | Wet ball makes life tough for bowlers, especially spinners |
How the Rawalpindi Pitch Has Played in This Series
In the first T20I on October 9, Sri Lanka chose to bat and made 182/8, with Lahiru Udara scoring 91. Kusal Mendis said after the match that his side needed 200-plus on this pitch, and he was proved right. Dew came in during the chase, and Pakistan got home in 18.5 overs thanks to Farhan’s 89 and Maaz Sadaqat’s 50.
The second T20I on October 11 was even more one-sided. Sadaqat smashed 96 off 51 balls and Farhan made 73 as Pakistan posted 215/3, the highest T20I total ever recorded at this ground. Sri Lanka could only manage 133/7 in reply. Both games showed that the surface rewards batters who play straight and use the pace of the ball.
Rawalpindi Weather Forecast for October 13
| Detail | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Clear and dry |
| Temperature at start | Around 23°C |
| Humidity | Around 68% by 7 PM |
| Rain chance | About 2% |
A full 40-over game is expected. The rising humidity later in the evening means dew will once again be a big factor for the side bowling second.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium T20I Records and Stats
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| T20Is played | 18 |
| Won batting first | 5 |
| Won chasing | 11 |
| Highest total | 215/3, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2026 |
| Lowest total | 90, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2024 |
| Highest individual score | 104, Mark Chapman (NZ) vs Pakistan, 2023 |
The overall average first-innings score here is around 150, but that number is pulled down by older, lower-scoring games and rain-hit matches. Recent T20Is, including both games of this series, show that totals of 180 and above are now the norm.
PAK vs SL T20I Head-to-Head
| Matches | Pakistan Won | Sri Lanka Won |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 20 | 12 |
What Should the Captains Do at Rawalpindi?
The team that wins the toss should bowl first, because dew has made chasing easier in both games of this series. A side that bats first needs to aim for at least 200, since 182 was not enough in the opener. Pakistan’s spinners, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed, and Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana will need to bowl quicker and flatter in the middle overs to stop batters from settling in. At the death, the bowlers must keep hitting yorkers even with a wet ball, because anything in the slot will fly over the rope.
