Defending champion India national cricket team continued its dominant run in the ICC T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan national cricket team in a high-voltage Group A contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
With rain clouds staying away and the atmosphere electric, India delivered a clinical all-round performance. After posting a competitive 175 for seven, Suryakumar Yadav’s side bundled out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs to seal a comprehensive win.
The chase unravelled almost immediately for Pakistan. Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha were all back in the pavilion with just 13 runs on the board. Hardik Pandya struck early and also contributed a catch, while Jasprit Bumrah picked up two crucial wickets to apply early pressure.
Pakistan’s troubles deepened when Babar Azam saw Axar Patel’s delivery crash into his stumps. Usman Khan attempted a counterattack, striking cleanly down the ground in a lone show of resistance. However, once he fell to Axar — with Ishan Kishan whipping off the bails — the contest effectively slipped away.
Earlier, after winning the toss and choosing to field, Pakistan made an early breakthrough when Abhishek Sharma miscued a pull to leave India at one for one. But there was no panic in the Indian ranks.
Kishan responded in emphatic fashion, smashing Shaheen Afridi’s first ball for six. The left-hander played with freedom and authority, racing to 77 off 40 balls, an innings studded with 10 fours and three sixes. Whether pulling, driving or lofting down the ground, Kishan kept the scoreboard ticking and ensured Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack found little respite.
Though Tilak Varma took time to settle, Kishan maintained the tempo before eventually falling while attempting another aggressive stroke. By then, India had built a solid foundation.
Suryakumar Yadav added impetus with crisp boundaries, while Tilak and Hardik briefly faltered with successive dismissals against Saim Ayub. Shivam Dube steadied the innings, rotating strike efficiently and finding occasional boundaries to maintain momentum.
Even after Suryakumar departed, India’s total proved more than sufficient. Despite losing a couple of wickets at the death, the bowlers ensured there would be no late twist.
On a charged night in Colombo, India’s blend of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling once again proved too strong for its fiercest rival.
