Source The guardian
COLOMBO – In a high-stakes encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, India extended their dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan with a commanding 61-run victory, officially securing their spot in the Super 8 stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Driven by a blistering half-century from Ishan Kishan and a clinical collective effort from the bowling unit, the defending champions maintained their perfect record in the tournament, moving to three wins from three matches.
Kishan Sets the Pace
After being put in to bat on a surface that offered some grip for the spinners, India faced an early setback when world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck in the opening over. However, Ishan Kishan quickly seized control, dismantling the Pakistani attack with a fearless 77 off just 40 deliveries.
Kishan’s innings, laced with 10 boundaries and 3 towering sixes, provided the backbone of the Indian total. He found able support in Tilak Varma (25) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (32), helping India post a competitive 175/7 in their 20 overs. Despite a disciplined spell from Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who claimed 3/25, the Indian middle order ensured the scoreboard kept ticking.
Pakistan’s Chase Crumbles
Chasing 176, Pakistan’s response never truly took flight. The Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struck early, reducing the opposition to a dismal 13/3 within the first few overs.
Pakistan’s hopes rested briefly on Usman Khan, who top-scored with 44, but the introduction of India’s spin department effectively ended the contest. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy strangled the middle order, with Patel removing the dangerous Babar Azam for just 5 runs.
Player Performance
Ishan Kishan 77 (40) – Player of the Match
Saim Ayub 3/25 (4 overs)
Jasprit Bumrah 2/17 (4 overs)
Axar Patel 2/19 (4 overs)
The tail offered little resistance as Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 114 in 18 overs. Hardik Pandya took the final wicket, sparking celebrations among the massive contingent of Indian fans in Colombo and millions watching worldwide.
The Road Ahead
With this victory, India sits comfortably at the top of Group A. Pakistan, meanwhile, finds themselves in a precarious position, dropping to third place behind the USA on Net Run Rate. They must now win their final group fixture to keep their hopes of qualification alive.
“We played with a clear plan today,” said Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. “Ishan gave us the platform, and the bowlers executed perfectly under pressure. It’s always special to win these games, but the job isn’t finished yet.”
