India delivered a statement victory against Pakistan, crushing their rivals by 61 runs in a Group A clash at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. The win sealed India’s spot in the Super 8 stage and extended Pakistan’s misery against the two-time T20 World Cup champions.
Ishan Kishan Steals the Show
Ishan Kishan turned the game on its head with a blazing 77 off just 48 balls. Facing 18 overs of spin from Pakistan, Kishan refused to play safe. He attacked from ball one, smashing boundaries at will and giving India the momentum they desperately needed.
“The way Ishan batted, and he was batting in the last few games and also in the domestic circuit, he batted the same way and took the team ahead,” captain Suryakumar Yadav said after the match. His aggression in the powerplay put India ahead of the game right from the start.
Kishan’s innings was the backbone of India’s total of 175/6. When Pakistan unleashed their spin arsenal, most batters struggled. Not Kishan. He danced down the track, swept with precision, and kept the scoreboard ticking. His knock included 8 fours and 4 sixes.
India’s Bowling Destroys Pakistan
Chasing 176, Pakistan crumbled spectacularly. They were bowled out for just 114 in 18 overs. Only Usman Khan showed any fight with a gritty 34, but wickets kept falling at the other end.
Hardik Pandya set the tone with the new ball, striking early to rattle Pakistan’s top order. Then came Jasprit Bumrah, who once again proved why he’s rated as the world’s best T20 bowler. He picked up two crucial wickets, breaking partnerships before they could blossom.
Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel joined the party, taking two wickets each. The spinners strangled Pakistan in the middle overs. Every time a batter looked settled, India had an answer.
“Hardik took the new ball, taking charge from ball one. Then Bumrah coming in, what he does the best. He showed the world why he is the best bowler in the world,” Suryakumar praised his bowlers.
Captain’s Verdict: “This is for India”
Standing in front of a packed stadium, Suryakumar didn’t hide his emotions. When asked what pleased him most about the win, his answer was simple and powerful: “This is for India.”
The Indian captain credited his team for sticking to their brand of cricket. “We played the same brand of cricket that we wanted to play,” he said. Batting first on a tricky Colombo pitch was always going to be challenging, but India backed their strength.
Suryakumar also highlighted contributions from Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh, who chipped in with useful cameos lower down the order. “There was a little bit of a lump between 7-15 overs, but that’s the beauty of T20 cricket,” he admitted.
India’s Dominance Continues
This victory adds another chapter to India’s growing dominance over Pakistan in ICC tournaments. The head-to-head record in T20 World Cups now heavily favours India, with Pakistan struggling to find answers against their traditional rivals.
For Pakistan, this loss exposes serious flaws. Their batting collapsed under pressure, and their much-hyped spin attack failed to contain Kishan. The road ahead looks difficult for Salman Ali Agha’s men.
What’s Next?
India now gets two days to recover before facing the Netherlands on Wednesday, February 18, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With momentum on their side and confidence sky-high, Suryakumar’s team looks ready to go all the way.
Pakistan, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their tournament isn’t over yet, but they’ll need massive improvements with both bat and ball to stay alive.
The Super 8 stage awaits India, and based on this performance, every team will be watching nervously.
