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In a clinical display of high-octane cricket at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15, 2026, India decimated Pakistan by 61 runs to officially secure their place in the Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2026. The victory was anchored by a ferocious counter-attack from Ishan Kishan, who transformed a shaky start into a match-winning platform with his second consecutive fifty of the tournament.
India’s bowling unit, led by a menacing opening spell from Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, then dismantled the Pakistan chase, leaving it in total ruins within the Powerplay. With a perfect record of three wins from three games, the Men in Blue have become the first team from Group A to qualify for the next round. This dominant performance not only reaffirms India’s title credentials but also marks one of their most comprehensive World Cup victories over their arch-rivals.
T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan’s blazing 77 powers India to 175 in Colombo
Following a tense ‘no-handshake’ toss where Pakistan elected to bowl, India suffered an immediate setback when Abhishek Sharma fell for a four-ball duck to Salman Ali Agha‘s off-spin. However, Kishan refused to let the pressure mount, launching a breathtaking assault that saw him smash 10 fours and 3 sixes across the park. By reaching his half-century in just 27 balls, Kishan officially joined an elite bracket of Indian batters to score a 50+ against Pakistan in T20 World Cup history, maintaining a strike rate of 192.50.
His aggressive 87-run partnership with Tilak Varma stabilized the innings and propelled India to a record-breaking 175/7, the highest team total ever recorded in an India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash. Despite a middle-order wobble caused by Saim Ayub’s triple strike, which included dismissing Hardik for a golden duck, late cameos from Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Shivam Dube (27) ensured India posted a total that felt well above par on the tacky, slow Colombo surface.
The Hardik Pandya-Jasprit Bumrah blitz: Pakistan’s chase crumbles for 114
Defending a target of 176, India’s Hardik set the tone with an extraordinary opening over that essentially decided the match before it truly began. Handed the new ball in a tactical masterstroke by Suryakumar, Pandya delivered a perfect wicket-maiden, inducing a mistimed pull from Sahibzada Farhan who departed for a four-ball duck.
The nightmare only deepened for Pakistan in the second over when Bumrah trapped Saim Ayub with a searing yorker and removed captain Salman Agha two balls later, leaving the chase in tatters at 13/3. Axar Patel soon cleaned up Babar Azam for just 5, and while Usman Khan offered brief resistance with a 44-run knock, the ‘Spin Twins’ Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy triggered a final collapse. Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 114 in 18 overs, handing India a massive 61-run victory and their most dominant bowling display of the 2026 campaign so far.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Padosiyo…..
Sunday kesa raha?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
India seem to intimidate Pakistan on the cricket field .. they are so much better in all facets of the game & such a better mentality of coping with the huge occasion ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Incredible striking by pocket rocket 👏 175 is a really good total on a tricky pitch.
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Team India 🇮🇳 well done . India vs Pakistan is only hype no contest. Fan made rivalry but one way traffic on the field ….. Again . JAI HIND
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
I've said it before, but it is worth repeating. Pakistan's cricket administration puts far too much pressure on their players. You could see that in how tentative they were.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
India is an exceptional team, best in the world. You need to have a near flawless game to beat them. Pakistan made too many errors, too many false shots, too many poor deliveries. You're never going to get close with a performance like that. Introspection required.
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)
A 61 run defeat on a pitch that was Pakistan's best chance tells you the current gulf betwen them and India.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj)
Pak fans after suffering yet another embarrassing defeat to India 😅
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Ishan Kishan, a doff of the hat, good sir! You are a master of the craft. That innings will stay with me for a long time. Right up there with Rohit against Oz in the last World Cup. Perhaps better.
— Nikhil Mehra (@TweetinderKaul)
India takes 8-1 lead over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history 🔥
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
