Under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, India delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pakistan by 61 runs in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo on Sunday.
Batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium, India posted a strong 175/7 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a dominant 77 off 40 balls, taking control of the middle overs and attacking both pace and spin with authority. Shivam Dube provided late momentum with a brisk 27 off 17 deliveries, while Rinku Singh added the finishing touch with an unbeaten 11 off just four balls.
In reply, Pakistan never managed to build momentum. India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, reducing their opponents to 73/5 before eventually bundling them out for 114.
Hardik Pandya was outstanding with the ball, claiming 2/16 in his three overs, including a maiden. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring Pakistan had no route back into the contest.
Speaking after the match, Kishan reflected on the conditions and the team’s mindset.
“I think the wicket wasn’t that easy in the beginning. You just have to believe and focus on your strengths. I wanted to make them run as much as possible to my side. I worked a lot on my off-side play and was just trying to keep it simple. I had it in mind that 160–170 would be a good total for us,” he said.
On the significance of the rivalry, Kishan added, “India vs Pakistan is always a special game — not only for us but for our country as well. Winning this game gives us a lot of confidence and we’ll look to carry the momentum forward.”
He also praised India’s pacers for their decisive spell. “When Shaheen was bowling, I didn’t feel the ball was doing much for the pacers. But the way Bumrah and Hardik bowled in those two overs was incredible.”
With a clinical all-round display, Gambhir’s India once again asserted their dominance over Pakistan on the world stage and strengthened their campaign in the tournament.
