IND vs PAK: ‘I went wherever I wanted…’, what did Ishan Kishan say after beating Pakistan?

By Samira Vishwas On Feb 16, 2026

Indian team’s opener Ishan Kishan destroyed Pakistan’s bowling in the T20 World Cup match on Sunday (February 15), scoring 77 runs in 40 balls with the help of 10 fours and 3 sixes. Ishan batted at a strike rate of 192.50 on the difficult pitch of R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. His innings set a good platform, allowing Team India to post a score of 175/7.

The spinners were getting a lot of help from the pitch but no one could stop Ishaan. Left-handed destructive batsman Ishaan hit shots wherever he wanted in the powerplay and even after the field. It was because of his innings that the Indian team made a big score in difficult conditions, which proved to be like Everest for Pakistan. While chasing the target, Pakistani team was reduced to just 114 runs. Team India registered a resounding win by 61 runs and easily entered the Super-8.

Ishaan was awarded the Player of the Match award. After being adjudged the best player of the mega-match, Ishaan said that he has improved his off-side game, due to which he is making the bowlers bowl the ball where he wants. Ishan’s strength has been the leg side but he scored 25 runs in 9 balls in the off side against Pakistan.

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Ishan Kishan playing a shot against Pakistan, Photo Credit: PTI

Ishaan’s attempt was to find the gap

Ishaan said, ‘I have worked hard on my off-side game. If I play good shots on the off side, I will get the ball where I want the opposition bowlers to bowl. He further said, ‘I was just trying to hit shots in the gap, because there is a big boundary here and when the field is big, the gaps are also big.’

Also read: India’s entry in Super-8, Pakistan stuck after losing by 61 runs in Colombo

Ishaan further said on his planning, ‘I was just trying to keep things simple. There was an attempt to hit a shot in the gap… so that two runs could be taken, because the wicket was not easy. The only thing in my mind was that we have to score 160-170 runs and that would be a very good score for us. Ishaan’s thinking proved correct. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah ensured India’s victory by taking 3 wickets in the first 2 overs.