On the back of Ishan’s 77, India reached 175/7 before their bowlers derailed Pakistan’s response with regular wickets to ensure a 61-run triumph.
The Indian cricket team advanced for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a 61-run victory over Pakistan in their third Group A encounter at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday.
India raced on a brilliant 77 off just 40 deliveries from Ishan Kishan to record 175/7 in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub, with scores of 3/25, was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers.
Indian spinners then produced a clinical effort as the Pakistan cricket squad folded on 114 in 18 overs.
All six bowlers employed by skipper Suryakumar Yadav were among the wickets with Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya picking up two each.
This was the eighth triumph for the Men in Blue in nine India vs Pakistan games at the T20 World Cups. Overall, it was India’s 14th win in 17 head-to-head encounters.
India, the world No. 1 T20 side, sit atop Group A with six points after the win. Pakistan, sixth in the ICC rankings, slid to the third slot after the devastating defeat, trailing the USA on Net Run Rate (NRR).
Put in to bat, India suffered an early setback as Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha struck with his very first over, eliminating world No. 1 T20I batsman Abhishek Sharma for a duck. However, the bright start for Pakistan rapidly darkened under an Ishan Kishan assault.
Kishan opened his innings in style, greeting Shaheen Shah Afridi with a six and maintained that aggressive purpose throughout.
The left-hander dominated a 46-ball stand of 87 for the second wicket with Tilak Varma, scoring 76 of those runs solo.
Kishan’s innings comprised 10 fours and three sixes before Saim Ayub’s crisp turn ended his batting in the ninth over with the score on 88/2. His fifty had come from just 27 balls.
Tilak Varma, who had played second fiddle to Kishan, fell soon after for 25 before Hardik Pandya departed first ball. India quickly found themselves at 126/4 in the 15th over with the Pakistan spinners tightening the screws.
Suryakumar Yadav pushed hard for his 32, but even he struggled to break free on a surface that offered grip.
A late burst from Shivam Dube (27) and Rinku Singh (11 not out), including back-to-back boundaries in the penultimate over, helped India boost the total to 175/7.
Pakistan’s pursuit was rocked early with Hardik Pandya bowling a wicket maiden which featured the loss of Sahibzada Farhan.
Jasprit Bumrah then claimed the wickets of Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha to reduce Pakistan to 13/3 in two overs.
Pakistan were 71/4 at the midway mark with a 39-run stand between Usman Khan and Shadab Khan, keeping their fragile hopes alive.
However, with the needed rate creeping up with every ball, Pakistan lost the next three wickets in a rush and were reduced to 83/7 in 13 overs.
A 17-run partnership for the 10th wicket enabled Pakistan reach above 100.
India’s next match at the T20 World Cup will be against the Netherlands on Wednesday. Pakistan, meanwhile, will take against Namibia in a must-win battle.
India against Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2026, brief scores: India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77; Saim Ayub 3/25) beat Pakistan 114/10 in 18 overs (Usman Khan 44; Hardik Pandya 2/16, Jasprit Bumrah 2/17, Varun Chakravarthy 2/17) by 61 runs.
