A breathtaking 77 off just 40 balls from Ishan Kishan powered India to a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in their high-voltage Group A clash at cricket’s T20 World Cup on Feb 15, sealing India’s place in the Super Eights and extending their dominant head-to-head record to 8-1 against their arch-rivals in the tournament.
On a slow, tacky surface at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the ball gripped and turned sharply, Kishan produced an innings of rare authority and audacity, reported Reuters.
Pakistan, recognising the nature of the pitch early, bowled 18 overs of spin after winning the toss and opting to field. Yet, even with six spin options deployed – the first time such a strategy had been attempted in a T20 World Cup – they had no answer to Kishan’s fearless strokeplay.
India eventually posted 175 for 7, a total that proved well beyond Pakistan’s reach, before bundling them out for 114 in 18 overs.
A pitch that demanded patience – and defiance
The conditions were far from ideal for fluent batting. India lost Abhishek Sharma for a duck in the opening over when Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha sprung a surprise by bowling himself with the new ball. The decision paid off instantly, with the off-spin extracting turn and trapping the left-hander leg-before.
But, if Pakistan expected India to retreat into caution, Kishan had other plans, reported AFP.
Facing Shaheen Shah Afridi’s cutters into the surface, Kishan used his quick hands and compact frame to devastating effect, pulling the very first ball he faced over square leg for six. He then lofted Agha against the turn and swept Abrar Ahmed for six first ball, refusing to let Pakistan’s premier spinner settle.
By the end of the powerplay, India were 52 for 1 – a score that seemed almost extravagant given the sluggish conditions. The rest of the innings would underline just how extraordinary Kishan’s knock was. Apart from his 77, the remaining batters and extras combined managed only 98 off 80 deliveries.
Kishan reached his half-century in just 27 balls and continued to attack even after the field spread. He drove Abrar over extra cover, reverse-pulled Saim Ayub, and punished Shadab Khan’s leg-spin in an expensive over that cost 17 runs.
When Ayub finally dismissed him in the ninth over, Kishan had scored 77 out of India’s 88 runs – a staggering proportion on such a pitch.
Late flourish lifts India above par
With Kishan gone, India shifted gears. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma stabilised the innings, adding 38 runs in measured fashion, aware that the foundation had been laid. Ayub briefly dragged Pakistan back with a triple strike, dismissing Tilak and Hardik Pandya in consecutive deliveries and nearly claiming a hat-trick.
But Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh provided the late thrust India needed. Dube struck 27 off 17 balls while Rinku blasted 11 off just four deliveries. Between them, Pakistan’s key spinners and Afridi conceded 86 runs in six overs – costly returns on a surface that should have favoured them.
India’s 175 felt at least 25-30 runs above par.
Hardik and Bumrah break Pakistan early
If Kishan’s knock gave India momentum, the new-ball burst from Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah sealed the contest within the first two overs of Pakistan’s chase.
Pandya struck immediately, removing in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan for a duck with disciplined hard lengths that forced a mistimed pull. Bumrah followed with a wicket-maiden, dismissing Saim Ayub and Agha to leave Pakistan reeling at 13 for 3.
When Axar Patel trapped Babar Azam for five, Pakistan were 34 for 4 inside five overs – effectively ending the contest.
Usman fights lone battle
Usman Khan briefly injected hope with a fluent 44 off 34 balls, including aggressive strokes off Axar and Pandya. But Axar lured him out with a quicker delivery, and Kishan completed the stumping — a fitting moment in a match defined by his brilliance.
Pakistan’s innings fizzled out soon after, handing India their biggest T20I win against Pakistan.
Reaction: Praise for Kishan, questions for Pakistan
Player of the match Kishan described the occasion as special.
“India v Pakistan is always a very important game for us and our country,” he said. “They had good spinners, but we tried to play our shots. This win gives us confidence going ahead.”
India captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded Kishan’s responsibility.
“After losing an early wicket, someone had to take charge. The way Ishan did it was amazing.”
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted execution was lacking.
“We believed in our spinners, but they had an off day. The pitch was tacky and gripping, but we didn’t execute well.”
Former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble summed up the gulf: “It was a no contest. Hardik hit the right lengths and Bumrah is a class apart.”
With three wins in three matches, defending champions India now swagger into the Super Eights with momentum and belief – propelled by an innings that may already be a contender for the best of the year.
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14 Feb 2026 20:23
