India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by 61 runs in Colombo on Sunday, confirming their place in the next round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. While the build-up to the contest had been filled with uncertainty, the match itself quickly tilted in India’s favor. From the opening exchanges, India seized control and rarely allowed Pakistan a chance to regain momentum.
After being asked to bat first, India national cricket team showed clear intent. An early setback came with the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma, but Ishan Kishan responded in emphatic fashion. He looked fluent from the outset, timing the ball beautifully and capitalizing on loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking at pace.
Kishan raced to his half-century in just 27 balls and continued to attack relentlessly. Boundaries flowed freely as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain him. By the time he was dismissed for a scintillating 77 off 40 deliveries, India had surged to 88 for 2 inside nine overs, with a total beyond 200 appearing well within reach.
Pakistan did manage to claw back some momentum in the middle phase. Saim Ayub delivered a fine spell, removing Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in successive deliveries. That double strike forced India into consolidation mode, slowing the scoring rate during the middle overs.
Despite the slowdown, India ensured they posted a competitive total. Suryakumar Yadav played a composed hand of 32, while Shivam Dube added a valuable 27. Their contributions helped India reach 175 for 7 — not the explosive total once anticipated, but still a strong score in a high-pressure encounter.
Chasing 176, Pakistan national cricket team struggled from the outset. India’s new-ball pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struck early, ripping through the top order inside the first two overs. Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and captain Salman Ali Agha were all dismissed with just 13 runs on the board, leaving Pakistan reeling.
From that point onward, Pakistan were constantly playing catch-up. Usman Khan attempted to stabilize the innings with a fighting 44 off 34 balls, showing resilience under pressure. However, wickets continued to fall around him. Babar Azam was dismissed early by Axar Patel, while Shadab Khan failed to provide the stability Pakistan desperately needed.
Once Usman Khan departed, the chase effectively unraveled. The lower order tried to resist, but the mounting required rate and relentless Indian bowling attack proved overwhelming. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, falling well short of the target as India sealed a comprehensive and emphatic victory in Colombo.
