Ishan Kishan’s batting masterclass propelled India to a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan, officially sealing their spot in the Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2026. Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 proved to be the difference-maker on a difficult Colombo surface, as Pakistan's chase faltered early and never recovered.
India bulldoze Pakistan by 61 runs
Chasing a target of 176, Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of India’s bowling attack, failing to reach the total as wickets fell at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 114.
With this win, India remains unbeaten in Group A, continuing their dominant 8-1 historical record against their rivals in T20 World Cup history. India have also progressed to the Super 8 stage after recording their third straight win in the ongoing tournament.
India will next face the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad while Pakistan will take on Namibia on the same day in Colombo.
Ishan Kishan storm blow away Pakistan
Earlier, Ishan Kishan appeared entirely unbothered by the sluggish Colombo track. The left-hander launched a fierce assault on the Pakistan bowling attack, powering India to a total of 175/7. Kishan’s explosive 77 came off just 40 deliveries and was highlighted by 10 fours and three sixes. Captain Suryakumar Yadav provided a more measured contrast at the other end, contributing a tactical 32 runs off 27 balls to keep the innings stable.
The match began on a difficult note for the Men in Blue after they lost the toss and were put in to bat. Opener Abhishek Sharma’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for a duck for the second time in the tournament. However, Kishan quickly found a reliable partner in Tilak Varma, and together the duo stabilized the innings with an 87-run stand for the second wicket.
While Kishan was the aggressor, Varma played a supporting role, scoring 25 runs from 24 balls before Pakistan managed to claw back into the contest. A sudden shift in momentum saw both Varma and Hardik Pandya dismissed in the space of just two deliveries, briefly stalling the Indian charge. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq further tightened the screws by removing Suryakumar Yadav, who was caught by Saim Ayub after a solid shift.
Late in the innings, Shivam Dube stepped into his role as the designated finisher, adding a quickfire 27 runs to the total. His 17-ball cameo included three boundaries and a six, ensuring India finished with a competitive score. Saim Ayub was the standout performer with the ball for Pakistan, finishing with figures of 3/25, while Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi each chipped in with a wicket.
Pakistan's deflated chase
In a tactical shift, Pakistan became the first team to field six different spinners in a single T20 World Cup match. While this strategy successfully restricted India to 175/7, preventing them from crossing the 200-run threshold, any optimism Pakistan gained quickly vanished. Their chase began in disastrous fashion, as they crumbled to a staggering 13/3 within just the first two overs.
The Indian pace duo of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah effectively broke the back of the Pakistani top order before the spinners could even get involved. Pandya struck first, removing the in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan for a duck. Bumrah then intensified the pressure in the following over, dismissing both Saim Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha to leave the opposition reeling.
The situation failed to improve as the powerplay progressed, with veteran Babar Azam also falling cheaply for just five runs. By the end of the first six overs, Pakistan were gasping at 38/4, struggling to find any momentum on the sluggish Colombo track.
While Usman Khan offered some resistance with a fighting 44, his efforts were eventually cut short by Axar Patel. The Indian spinner cleverly lured Usman out of his crease, resulting in a clinical stumping that effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes of an unlikely comeback. India eventually secured a 61-run victory, bowling Pakistan out for 114 and officially clinching their spot in the Super 8 stage.