Colombo: In a commanding display of dominance, Team India crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by a massive 61 runs in a high-stakes Group A clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday, securing their spot in the Super 8 stage with authority.
Opting to bat first on a spin-friendly surface, India posted a challenging 175/7 in their 20 overs. Opener Ishan Kishan stole the show with a blistering 77 off just 40 balls, smashing 10 fours and 3 sixes to set the platform. His 87-run stand with Tilak Varma (25) proved crucial, while captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a steady 32 and Shivam Dube added a quick 27.
Pakistan’s chase never took off as they crumbled to 114 all out in 18 overs. Usman Khan top-scored with 44, but no other batsman crossed 20 except Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unbeaten 23. India’s bowlers wreaked havoc: Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthi, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel each claimed two wickets, restricting the opposition with clinical precision.
This victory marked India’s eighth win in nine T20 World Cup encounters against Pakistan — their biggest margin by runs in T20Is against the neighbours — underlining an unshakeable supremacy in these high-octane battles.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the triumph on X, posting, “Well played #TeamIndia 👏 Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent. Congratulations to the entire team. #T20WorldCup”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several other elected officials, also congratulated the Men in Blue for their splendid performance, sparking nationwide celebrations.