India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs in an ICC T20 World Cup Group A match in Colombo on Sunday, February 15, as a 77 from Ishan Kishan and a ruthless, balanced bowling effort powered a 175/7 total and then bowled Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs. The win extended India’s unbeaten run to three matches and left them firmly atop Group A.
Asked to bat first, India were jolted early when Abhishek Sharma departed for a four-ball duck (out for zero after facing four deliveries) in the opening over. The early breakthrough briefly lifted Pakistan, but India quickly seized control.
Kishan and Tilak Varma attacked the Pakistan pace attack in the powerplay (the fielding restriction overs from 0–6), racing to 52/1 after six overs. Kishan reached his fifty off 27 balls — the third-fastest half-century in India‑Pakistan T20Is, according to the match account — and finished 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. The pair added an 87-run stand before Saim Ayub broke through in the ninth over.
Suryakumar Yadav and Varma steadied the middle overs, taking India past 100 in 11.1 overs and to 125/2 by the 14th over. Ayub struck twice in the 15th, dismissing Varma (25) and then Hardik Pandya with a golden duck (out first ball faced). Suryakumar added 32 off 29 before departing in the 19th over, and India finished strongly as Shaheen Afridi leaked 16 in the final over, lifting the total to 175/7 — the highest team total in an India‑Pakistan clash at an ICC T20 World Cup, per the match report.
Pakistan’s Saim Ayub was the pick of their bowlers with 3/25. Usman Tariq, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha took one wicket each.
Defending 176, India struck immediately. Hardik removed Sahibzada Farhan for a four-ball duck, and Jasprit Bumrah followed with two quick wickets — Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha — leaving Pakistan reeling at 13/3 inside two overs. Babar Azam never found rhythm and fell for 5 to Axar Patel, reducing Pakistan to 34/4.
Usman Khan countered with 44 off 34, combining with Shadab Khan for a 39-run partnership that briefly revived the chase. Axar broke the stand when Ishan Kishan completed a sharp stumping (wicketkeeper dismisses a batter out of their crease) to remove Usman at 73/5. Wickets tumbled thereafter — Mohammed Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf departed in quick succession, Abrar Ahmed was trapped lbw for a golden duck, and Varun Chakravarthy and Tilak Varma also claimed scalps.
Pakistan never recovered and were all out for 114 in 18 overs. Axar Patel (2/29) led India’s disciplined attack, supported by Hardik Pandya (2/16), Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/17), highlighting India’s depth and balance in both departments. With this result India reinforced their position at the top of Group A while Pakistan slipped to third.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/sport/story/india-dominate-arch-rivals-pakistan-to-stay-unbeaten-in-t20-world-cup-enters-super-8-1346699-2026-02-16?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-02-16 08:10:00
