Colombo: In a commanding display of dominance, Team India crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by a massive 61 runs in their crucial Group A clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday, sealing their spot in the Super 8 stage with an unbeaten run.
Electing to bat first on a challenging pitch, India posted a competitive 175/7 in their 20 overs. Opener Ishan Kishan stole the show with a blistering 77 off just 40 balls, providing the explosive start that set the tone. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Shivam Dube (27), along with a late flourish, helped India reach a defendable total despite Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase crumbled spectacularly as they were bundled out for 114 in 18 overs. Usman Khan offered some resistance with a gritty 44 off 34 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up faltered, with seven batters failing to reach double digits. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav each claimed two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma each contributed one wicket.
This victory marks India’s third straight win in Group A, boosting their points to 6 with an impressive net run rate of +3.050, confirming their Super 8 qualification. Pakistan, now with 4 points from three matches (two wins, one loss) and a negative NRR of around -0.403, has slipped to third behind the USA (4 points, better NRR). A loss in their final group game against Namibia could spell elimination for the Men in Green.
The win extends India’s unbeaten streak against Pakistan in this tournament and underscores their bowling prowess on turning tracks.