Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a brutal post-match verdict after India’s emphatic 61-run thrashing of Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026. The toss, he argued, was the match-winner, with Pakistan’s decision to bowl first proving catastrophic on a pitch that has humbled chasers throughout the tournament.
Detailing his take on YouTube, Ashwin said, ‘Pakistan won the toss and chose to field, influenced by Australia’s chase woes against Zimbabwe. But Premadasa defies IPL logic – you can’t chase 100 in the final 10 overs here.’ India made them pay, piling up 175/7. Openers Ishan Kishan blazed 77 off 40 (3×6, 10×4), while Suryakumar Yadav added 32 crucial runs.
In response, Pakistan imploded to 114 all out in 18 overs. Usman Khan fought with 44 off 34 balls, and Shaheen Afridi hung on for 23 not out. ‘India’s pressure game is leagues ahead,’ Ashwin noted. ‘Pakistan has gotten sharper technically with Salman Agha and Mike Hesson, but deploying Afridi too early post-Agha’s over was a glaring misstep.’
As India eyes Super 8 glory, they’ll close league play against Netherlands in Ahmedabad Wednesday. Ashwin’s sharp analysis reminds us: in World Cups, mastering conditions starts with the coin flip.