India Post 175/7 as Ishan Kishan’s Fireworks Light Up High-Voltage Clash Against Pakistan

Colombo, Feb 2026 : In a gripping Group A encounter of the Men’s T20 World Cup, the India national cricket team produced a competitive batting display to post 175/7 in their allotted 20 overs against the Pakistan national cricket team at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. On a surface that offered appreciable assistance to spin, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan emerged as the undisputed star, smashing a breathtaking 77 off just 40 deliveries to give India the momentum they desperately needed in a fiercely contested fixture.

The match, played amid enormous anticipation and emotion, lived up to its billing from the very first over. India’s innings began on a jittery note as Abhishek Sharma, returning to the side, was dismissed for a duck on the final ball of the opening over by Salman Ali Agha. Pakistan’s early breakthrough briefly lifted their spirits, but what followed was a counter-attacking masterclass from Kishan that quickly turned the tide.

Displaying supreme confidence and impeccable timing, Kishan wasted little time in asserting his authority. He took on Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi with fearless intent, launching him for a towering six over square leg before following it up with a crisp boundary. His footwork against spin was equally impressive, as he used the depth of the crease and the angles of the field to devastating effect.

Kishan found early support from Tilak Varma, and the duo focused on smart rotation of strike while punishing loose deliveries. The powerplay overs belonged firmly to India, with Kishan leading the charge through a flurry of boundaries. Despite a few deliveries gripping and stopping on the pitch, the left-hander adjusted swiftly, opting for placement over brute force when required.

India reached 52/1 at the end of the powerplay, a platform largely built on Kishan’s audacious strokeplay. His half-century came up in just 27 balls, a testament to his attacking mindset and growing maturity at the international level. The milestone was brought up in style, with a lofted drive over the bowler’s head followed by a blistering extra-cover hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

However, Pakistan fought back admirably through their spinners. Saim Ayub, in particular, proved to be the game-changer with the ball. His clever variations and ability to extract turn from the surface made run-scoring increasingly difficult as the innings progressed. Kishan, after playing a reverse hit for four, was eventually undone by a beauty from Ayub that gripped sharply and crashed into the stumps, ending a scintillating knock of 77 that included 10 fours and three sixes.

With India at 92/2 after 10 overs, the responsibility shifted to the middle order. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma adopted a measured approach, fully aware that the pitch was not conducive to all-out aggression. Their partnership of 57 runs off 53 balls was crucial in stabilising the innings, even if it came at a relatively subdued scoring rate.

Pakistan’s strategy of employing spin paid dividends during this phase. The visitors bowled as many as 18 overs of spin, effectively choking the flow of runs and forcing Indian batters to take risks. The pressure told soon after the drinks break when Ayub trapped Tilak Varma lbw, breaking the partnership. Hardik Pandya, promoted up the order to accelerate, fell for a golden duck after miscuing a carrom ball to long-off, giving Pakistan a double strike and renewed hope.

Despite the setbacks, Suryakumar continued to find gaps with his trademark innovation. He pulled and lofted spinners with precision, ensuring the scoreboard kept moving. His innings of 32 runs was more about game awareness than flamboyance, perfectly suited to the match situation.

In the death overs, India received valuable contributions from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh. Dube’s clean striking and Rinku’s calm presence ensured India finished strongly, with 35 runs coming off the last three overs. Shaheen Afridi, brought back at the death, conceded boundaries but also picked up wickets, as both Dube and Axar Patel fell on the final two deliveries of the innings.

Pakistan’s bowling effort was headlined by Ayub’s impressive spell of 3 for 25, while Salman Agha and the other spinners played their roles effectively in keeping India below the 180-run mark. Given the nature of the pitch, 175 appeared to be a challenging total rather than an imposing one.

As the teams headed into the innings break, the contest remained finely poised. With spin already dictating terms, India’s own spin-heavy bowling attack would fancy their chances of defending the total. Pakistan, on the other hand, knew that discipline and composure with the bat would be key if they were to chase down the target on a tricky surface.

On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, fans were treated to yet another thrilling chapter in the storied rivalry between the two nations. Kishan’s electrifying knock set the tone, but the match promised plenty more drama as Pakistan prepared to begin their chase against a determined Indian side.

Brief Scores: India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32; Saim Ayub 3-25, Salman Agha 1-10) vs Pakistan.

Team Maverick