The age-old rivalry exploded in Colombo as India dismantled Pakistan by 61 runs in T20 World Cup 2026’s 27th encounter at R Premadasa Stadium. With this third straight victory, Team India storms into Super 8, showcasing unmatched prowess.
Building on wins over USA by 29 runs and Namibia by 93, India prepares for Netherlands on February 18. But today’s demolition stands as a pinnacle of dominance.
Sent in to bat, India lost Abhishek Sharma for 0 on the first ball but Ishan Kishan unleashed havoc. His 77 (40 balls, 10 fours, 3 sixes) in an 87-run stand with Tilak Varma (25) off 46 balls rescued them to 88/2. Kishan’s dismissal opened the door for Suryakumar Yadav’s 32 off 29.
Surya stitched 38 with Varma (third wicket) and 33 with Shivam Dube (27) for the fifth. Rinku Singh’s quick 11* off 4 sealed 175/7. Saim Ayub’s 3-fer headlined Pakistan’s bowling, backed by single wickets from three others.
Pakistan’s reply was a debacle: 0/1 after four balls with Sahibzada Farhan gone. Three wickets at 13 runs set a grim tone. Usman Khan’s 44 off 34 (6×4, 1×6) offered hope via 21-run stand with Babar (5) and 39 with Shadab (14), yet 73/5 triggered collapse to 114 all out.
India’s spin and pace symphony—Pandya, Bumrah, Axar, Varun (2 wickets apiece), plus Kuldeep and Tilak—proved lethal. As Super 8 beckons, India’s blend of explosive batting and clinical bowling positions them as frontrunners for the title.