In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Team India emerged victorious by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
During the match, Team India`s opening batsman Ishan Kishan played a blistering knock of 77 runs off 40 deliveries. His knock also included 10 boundaries and three maximums.
Shouldering Kishan from the other end was Tilak Varma. He departed after scoring 25 runs in 24 balls, with the help of two boundaries and a maximum.
Speaking about Kishan`s knock, Varma said that it felt like he was batting on a different pitch. He also revealed that after getting a strong start, the duo was aiming to reach 200 instead of settling for 175 runs.
“There was a bit of nervousness in this game. But at the same time, I was focusing on one ball at a time. The wicket was slightly tricky, but the way Ishan Kishan batted was terrific. It was brilliant to watch. The way he played his shots, it looked like he was batting on a different pitch. I told him to keep batting the same way, and that if a wicket fell, I would handle it at the other end and rotate the strike. To be frank, once we got the start, we were thinking of getting to 200 instead of settling at 175,” he said.
Coming to the match, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. After Abhishek was out for a duck, Ishan`s 77 and Tilak Varma`s 25 kept India stable, but the Men in Blue sank to 126/4, losing their set batters and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0).
However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh finished the innings well, pacing their knocks perfectly in tough conditions. India scored 175/7, with Saim Ayub (3/25) being the top bowler for Pakistan.
In the run-chase, Pakistan were reduced to 34/4 courtesy early strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan (44 in 34 balls, with six fours and a six) was the only one who showed up for the fight, as Team India packed Pakistan for just 114 runs in 18 overs, progressing to the Super 8 stage with their third successive win.
Axar Patel (2/29 in four overs) was the pick of the bowlers for India, with Hardik (2/16 in three overs), Bumrah (2/17 in two overs), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17 in three overs) also being amongst the wickets.
The victory also helped the “Men in Blue” to qualify for the “Super 8” stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. So far in the tournament, they have played three matches and have secured wins in as many games. Team India is enjoying the top spot in Group A with a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and six points.
T20 World Cup 2026: Team India`s upcoming fixture
Suryakumar Yadav-led men will now lock horns with the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
(With ANI Inputs)
