India Thrash Pakistan by 61 Runs in High-Voltage T20 World Cup Clash

Colombo, Feb 2026 : In one of the most anticipated encounters of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the India national cricket team delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan national cricket team by 61 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The 27th match of the tournament lived up to its billing, as India combined explosive batting with ruthless bowling to extend their formidable record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the early conditions. India, however, made full use of their batting depth to post a competitive total of 175/7 in 20 overs, before their bowlers dismantled Pakistan for just 114, sealing a comprehensive victory.

India’s Batting: Kishan Sets the Tone

India made two changes to their playing XI, bringing back Kuldeep Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, while Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson were left out. The decision looked risky early on when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over by Salman Ali Agha, leaving India wobbling at 0/1.

That early setback, however, only served as the spark for Ishan Kishan, who played one of the most electrifying innings of the tournament. Partnering Tilak Varma, Kishan counter-attacked fearlessly, taking on both pace and spin with equal confidence. India raced to 52/1 at the end of the powerplay, with Kishan already well into his stride.

Kishan brought up his half-century in just 27 balls, peppering the boundary with exquisite timing and clean hitting. His innings of 77 off 40 balls, laced with 10 fours and three sixes, completely unsettled the Pakistani bowling attack. The left-hander was eventually bowled by Saim Ayub in the ninth over, but not before giving India a flying start. At the halfway stage, India were well placed at 92/2.

Following Kishan’s dismissal, captain Suryakumar Yadav joined Tilak Varma, and the duo stitched together a crucial partnership. They played sensibly on a pitch that had begun to assist spin, rotating the strike and picking boundaries selectively. Tilak Varma contributed a valuable 25 before falling in the 15th over.

India then suffered a brief collapse as Hardik Pandya was dismissed for a golden duck on the very next ball, again by Saim Ayub. At 127/4 after 15 overs, Pakistan sensed an opening, but India’s lower middle order ensured a strong finish. Suryakumar Yadav scored a composed 32 before falling in the 19th over, while Shivam Dube added a brisk 27.

The finishing touches were provided by Rinku Singh, whose unbeaten 11 off just four balls pushed India to 175/7. Pakistan’s bowlers were led by Saim Ayub, who claimed 3/25, while Usman Tariq, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Agha chipped in with a wicket each.

Pakistan’s Chase: Early Collapse Seals Fate

Chasing 176, Pakistan needed a solid start, but India’s pace attack ensured that never materialised. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya ripped through the top order with deadly accuracy. Pandya struck in his very first over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in a maiden over that set the tone for the innings.

Bumrah then produced a sensational second over, removing Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha in quick succession. With Pakistan reeling at 13/3 after just two overs, the pressure mounted rapidly. The situation worsened when Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam for just five runs in the fifth over, leaving Pakistan struggling at 38/4 after six overs.

Usman Khan and Shadab Khan attempted a recovery, building a partnership that briefly steadied the innings. The duo added 39 runs, taking Pakistan to 71/4 at the halfway mark. Usman Khan was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 44 off 34 balls and offering a glimmer of hope to Pakistani supporters.

That hope, however, was swiftly extinguished. Axar Patel broke the partnership in the 11th over by dismissing Usman Khan, and from there, the innings unravelled. Kuldeep Yadav removed Mohammad Nawaz in the 12th over, and Tilak Varma, brought on as a part-time bowler, struck immediately by dismissing Shadab Khan for 14.

The middle and lower order had no answer to India’s spin stranglehold. Varun Chakravarthy added to Pakistan’s misery in the 16th over, picking up two wickets in successive deliveries as Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed departed. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114, handing India a thumping 61-run victory.

Tournament Context and Head-to-Head Dominance

With this win, India maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament. They had earlier defeated the United States by 29 runs and crushed Namibia by 93 runs. With four points and an impressive net run rate of +3.050, India sit comfortably at the top of the Group A table.

Pakistan, despite the loss, remain second in the standings. They had earlier beaten the Netherlands in a close contest and registered a big win against the USA, giving them a net run rate of +0.932.

The result further underlined India’s dominance over Pakistan in T20 internationals. The two sides have now faced each other 16 times in T20Is, with India leading 13-3. In T20 World Cups, the gap is even wider, with India winning seven of the eight encounters between the two teams.

Playing XIs

Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.

India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

A Statement Win

India’s emphatic victory was a statement of intent in the tournament. Their ability to recover from early setbacks with the bat, combined with a lethal and disciplined bowling display, showcased why they remain one of the strongest contenders for the title. For Pakistan, the match served as a reminder of the fine margins at this level and the need for greater consistency against top opposition.

As the tournament progresses, this clash will be remembered not just for the rivalry, but for India’s complete command in all departments of the game.

Team Maverick