India delivered a commanding performance in Colombo, defeating Pakistan by 61 runs in a high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium. A sensational 77 off 40 balls from Ishan Kishan laid the foundation for India’s 175 for 7, before a clinical bowling display dismantled Pakistan for just 114 in 18 overs. The victory extended India’s dominant T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-1 and reinforced their growing aura at global ICC tournaments.
On a slow, tacky surface that encouraged heavy spin usage, Pakistan opted to bowl first after winning the toss. The pitch lived up to expectations, with 18 overs of spin deployed during India’s innings. Early on, Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck, but Kishan counterattacked brilliantly. Unfazed by turn and low bounce, he targeted both pace and spin, reaching a 27-ball fifty and maintaining pressure throughout the powerplay. His aggressive intent ensured India surged to 51 for 1 inside six overs, a critical advantage on a pitch where stroke-making was far from easy.
Kishan’s knock stood out even more given the challenging conditions. Apart from his explosive innings, the rest of India’s batting unit managed 98 runs off 80 balls, highlighting just how vital his contribution was. While Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the middle overs, late acceleration from Rinku Singh pushed India to what appeared at least 25 to 30 runs above par. The total ultimately proved far beyond Pakistan’s reach.
Pakistan’s chase never gathered momentum. Hardik Pandya struck immediately with a wicket-maiden, setting the tone for a relentless bowling display. Jasprit Bumrah removed Saim Ayub early, and wickets continued to tumble inside the powerplay. Pakistan slumped to 34 for 4, with Babar Azam and Salman Agha failing to convert starts. Although Usman Khan briefly threatened with a fluent 44 off 34, disciplined spin from Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav choked the scoring rate and eliminated any hope of a comeback.
As pressure mounted, Pakistan collapsed in a flurry of wickets. Varun Chakravarthy struck twice in succession, and Pandya returned to seal the contest emphatically. India’s 61-run triumph marked their biggest T20 International victory over Pakistan and their 16th consecutive win in limited-overs ICC events since 2023. With confidence surging and their bowling attack firing in unison, India once again demonstrated why they remain the benchmark side on cricket’s biggest stage.
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