Team India maintained their impeccable run in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, securing a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in their Group A clash
at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15, 2026.
This win marked India's third consecutive triumph in the tournament and extended their dominance over Pakistan to 8-1 in T20 World Cup history, while also confirming their qualification for the Super 8 stage.
Opting to bat first after being inserted, India navigated a challenging, slow, and spin-friendly pitch to post a competitive 175/7 in their 20 overs. The standout performer was opener Ishan Kishan, whose explosive 77 off just 40 balls provided the backbone of the innings. Kishan masterfully countered the conditions and Pakistan's spin-heavy attack, blending aggressive strokeplay with smart running. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32) and others helped push the total beyond par, appearing around 30 runs above what the surface suggested.
In response, Pakistan's chase unravelled dramatically in the powerplay. India's pacers set an aggressive tone early, claiming three quick wickets-Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah struck decisively in the first two overs-to reduce the opposition to 13/3. The middle order offered little resistance, with Usman Khan's 44 being the lone notable effort. The spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Axar Patel (2/29), along with Hardik (2/16) and Bumrah (2/17), dismantled the batting lineup, bowling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs.
During an analysis, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar, speaking on 'Follow the Blues', praised India's overall display. He highlighted Ishan Kishan's exceptional knock as pivotal and commended the pacers' early breakthroughs in the powerplay for setting the dominant tone.
"Courtesy of that massive victory, we can probably settle this debate that the gap between India and Pakistan is quite vast and is unlikely to reduce in the near future. So every time India plays Pakistan, I feel this record is only going to improve and the margin is going to get bigger," Bangar said.
The former India player also hailed India captain Suryakumar Yadav for handling Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
"I would like to compliment Suryakumar Yadav for the way he handled his bowling resources. Despite Pakistan bowling 18 overs of spin, he resisted the urge to start with spin and gave the fast bowlers the first opportunity against the Pakistan batters," he added.
