The India-Pakistan rivalry once again delivered drama, noise, and intensity, but this time it was India who walked away firmly on top.
A blistering half-century from Ishan Kishan followed by a ruthless bowling performance helped India storm past Pakistan with a commanding 61-run victory in their blockbuster ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan, chasing 176, never truly looked settled and were bundled out for 114 in 18 overs, continuing their struggles in pressure games against their arch-rivals.
Kishan Sets the Stage for India
India’s innings began with an early shock as Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck, but Kishan quickly ensured there was no panic in the dressing room.
The left-hander launched a counterattack, playing with freedom and intent, and stitched together a match-defining partnership with Tilak Varma.
Kishan was at his aggressive best, smashing boundaries all around the ground on his way to a superb 77 off 40 balls, an innings packed with 10 fours and three sixes.
Even after his dismissal, India’s middle order kept the scoreboard ticking, with contributions from:
- Tilak Varma (25)
- Suryakumar Yadav (32)
- Shivam Dube (27)
India eventually posted a strong 175/7, a total that always felt above par on a surface offering something for the bowlers.
Pakistan Collapse Under Pressure Again
Pakistan’s chase began in nightmare fashion.
With only 13 runs on the board, India’s pace spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya ripped through the top order, removing key batters inside the first two overs.
The early damage left Pakistan reeling, and the required rate quickly spiralled out of reach.
Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan showed some resistance, fighting hard with a gritty 44 off 34 balls, but he found little support from the other end.
Once Axar Patel struck twice in the middle overs, Pakistan’s chase completely collapsed.
The Green Shirts slipped from bad to worse, reduced to 78/7, and the rest was only a matter of time.
India Bowlers Seal the Deal
India’s bowling attack worked like a well-oiled unit, never allowing Pakistan to build momentum.
The wickets were shared evenly:
- Bumrah – 2 wickets
- Axar Patel – 2 wickets
- Hardik Pandya – 2 wickets
- Varun Chakravarthy – 2 wickets
Pakistan’s innings ended with little fight left, as India completed a dominant win in one of the tournament’s biggest fixtures.
What This Means Going Forward
This emphatic victory gives India a major boost in both points and confidence as the tournament moves deeper into the group stage.
For Pakistan, however, the defeat raises serious questions about their batting stability, especially against top-quality pace under pressure.
The rivalry may always bring excitement, but in Colombo, it was India who delivered the knockout punch.
Match Summary
India: 175/7 (20 overs)
Pakistan: 114 all out (18 overs)
Result: India won by 61 runs
Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan (77 off 40)
