By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: India produced a performance of clinical authority to thrash Pakistan by 61 runs in their T20 World Cup group-stage clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, confirming their place in the Super Eights with a match to spare.
It was a victory that carried the unmistakable stamp of a side growing into tournament favourites, built on Ishan Kishan’s explosive half-century and a bowling effort that never allowed Pakistan a foothold. Set 176 to win after India posted 175 for 7, Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, their chase collapsing in familiar fashion under the weight of early blows and a middle order that once again failed to fire.
The contest, already freighted with history, carried an extra edge after neither captain offered a handshake at the toss, a repeat of last year’s frosty Asia Cup encounters in the shadow of the brief 2025 border conflict. Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan’s captain, won the toss and sprang an immediate surprise by opening the bowling himself. The off-spinner trapped Abhishek Sharma LBW for a duck with his third delivery, the reigning No 1 T20I batter falling for the second time in the tournament. It was a rare early success on a surface so slow and tacky that Pakistan would go on to bowl 18 overs of spin in the innings, a first in World Cup history.
But the early optimism was swiftly extinguished by Kishan. The left-hander, recalled to the side and in the form of his life, tore into the bowling from the outset. He and Tilak Varma put on 87 in just 45 deliveries, a partnership that mixed brutal power with clever placement on a surface that offered grip to the spinners. Kishan’s 77 came from only 40 balls, laced with 10 fours and three sixes, an innings of rare intent that dragged India from the early stumble to a position of dominance.
Saim Ayub, Pakistan’s most effective bowler, eventually broke the stand by removing Kishan, then produced a remarkable spell of three wickets for 25, claiming Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in successive deliveries to threaten a hat-trick. Suryakumar Yadav contributed a measured 32, Shivam Dube a brisk 27, but it was Kishan’s pyrotechnics that set the tone.
Pakistan’s reply was a study in disintegration. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, operating in tandem at the top, were ruthless. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck in the first over, Saim Ayub fell for six and captain Salman Ali Agha for four, leaving Pakistan at 13 for 3 inside two overs. Babar Azam, so often the cornerstone, managed only five before being cleaned up by Axar Patel.
Usman Khan offered the only genuine resistance, a valiant 44 from 34 balls that included six boundaries and a six, but it was a lone hand. He shared brief stands with Babar and then Shadab Khan, yet the required rate climbed relentlessly. Axar struck again to remove Usman, Kuldeep Yadav accounted for Mohammad Nawaz, and Tilak Varma claimed Shadab in his first over. Varun Chakravarthy picked up two in quick succession, including a golden duck for Abrar Ahmed, before Pandya returned to finish the job by bowling the No 11, Usman Tariq. Bumrah, Axar, Pandya and Chakravarthy each claimed two wickets, a collective effort that spoke of total control. Pakistan, who had relied heavily on spin – six slow bowlers in all – simply could not cope once the top order had been prised apart. The margin of defeat will sting, particularly in a fixture that still carries the weight of history and geopolitics.
The result leaves India top of Group A and safely through to the Super Eights. Pakistan, meanwhile, must beat Namibia in their final group match on 18 February to keep their campaign alive.
Back home, the reaction was predictably fierce, with supporters on social media openly questioning the continued selection of senior players, whose contributions on the biggest stages have diminished in recent times. If the cricket itself was one-sided, the reaction on social media was anything but. So much so that many were left wondering aloud whether they should have simply stuck to the boycott in the first place. The 61-run loss left supporters not just disappointed but actively annoyed at themselves for daring to expect anything different this time around. For many, “the only sane way to watch a Pakistan-India match these days is with a blindfold on”.
Former captain Mohammad Yousuf did not mince his words. “Time’s up,” he said of senior figures Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan. “Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides.” Ramiz Raja, commentating on the game, called it “a bit of a disaster – especially the batting. India have been fielding the same bowling attack against Pakistan for the last two or three years, and every time the batsmen have been woefully ordinary. There is no growth.”
Ahmed Shehzad labelled the performance “pathetic cricket”, the “sad story of Pakistan cricket. Same old faces, same old results. Please don’t fool the nation anymore.” He urged the inclusion of Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay and Salman Mirza. Sohaib Maqsood, a former middle-order batter, pointed the finger at the bowling. “It’s by far the reason for today’s defeat. It’s not a 180-run pitch – even 140 could have been tough to chase. We prepared on similar pitches against Australia at home. Agha won all the tosses and batted first. Why bowl first today?”
The win extended Indians T20 World Cup dominance over Pakistan to 8-1. Suryakumar Yadav’s side have now won all three group matches and head into the Super Eights with momentum and confidence. Kishan, named player of the match, was typically understated. “We knew we had to put up a total like 160-170, which would be a good total for us,” he said. “An India-Pakistan match is always special, not just for us but our country as well. Winning this gives us confidence going forward.” For Salman Ali Agha, there was only quiet acceptance. “Execution was missing in some parts,” he said in the presentation. “We went in with four spinners but they had an off day. If you lose three or four wickets in the powerplay, you are always chasing the game. In these games the emotions are always going to be high. We just need to deal with it. We have a game in a couple of days and we have to look forward to it. We need to win that and qualify. Then it is a new tournament.”
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