T20 World Cup: Ishan Kishan blitz guides India to big win over Pakistan
Salman Ali Agha's side found itself clueless against a formidable India bowling attack and were bowled out for 114, chasing 176
India continued their dominance over Pakistan in cricket as they defeated the arch-rivals in the T20 World Cup 2026 by 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday (February 15), to advance to the tournament's Super Eight stage from Group A.
The Green Shirts, on the other hand, saw themselves pushed to the third position in the table after the loss, trailing the United States in the net run rate (-0.40 against +0.78) despite having an equal number of points (four). They would have to beat Namibia in their final group fixture comprehensively to make the Super Eight.
Coming to Sunday's clash, batting first, the defending champions and co-hosts put up a total of 175 for 7 in 20 overs after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and asked them to bat first. In reply, Pakistan never looked to be in the race and was bowled out for 114 in 18 overs. India have now extended their lead over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup to 8-1.
Also read: Ind vs Pak: Photos from India’s training session in Colombo
Pakistan had their worst possible start to the chase as they lost explosive opener Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over to Hardik Pandya for nought while ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, after conceding a 'mistimed' six to Saim Ayub, picked him as well as Agha, leaving the opponents reeling at 13 for 3, a precarious position from which they never recovered.
Axar Patel (2/29) compounded Pakistan's woes by clean bowling Babar Azam (5) and later dismissing the well-set keeper-batter Usman Khan (44 off 34 balls), as the innings lurched from one setback to another.
Usman and Shadab Khan (14) had sparked a brief resurgence with a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but the former's dismissal triggered yet another collapse in the Pakistan innings. In bowling, India produced a team effort with every bowler, barring Rinku Singh, who bowled one over, picking wickets.
Also read: Why Pakistan withdrew boycott of India T20 WC game, and who won | AI With Sanket
While Pandya, Bumrah, Axar and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two each, Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma had one apiece. Varun came close to a hat-trick by claiming his wickets (Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed) in successive balls.
Ishan Kishan led India's charge
Earlier, in-form opener Ishan Kishan hit a brisk 77 off 40 balls as India posted a total of 175 for 7 in 20 overs.
Despite his cramps, the southpaw slammed 10 fours and 3 sixes in his knock on a track that didn't look to be a batting paradise, taking the attack to Pakistan's spin-heavy battery. Captain Suryakumar Yadav made 32 off 29 balls while Varma, the hero of India's Asia Cup triumph against the same opponents last September, scored 25.
Also read: T20 World Cup: How India-Pakistan boycott exposes cricket’s fragility
Play was briefly halted as Kishan required attention from the team physio due to discomfort in his right leg. But he did not last long after that as off-break bowler Saim Ayub castled him.
The partnership between Kishan and Varma yielded 87 runs, stabilising the innings after the early setback.
Ayub struck again later, removing Varma and a dangerous Hardik Pandya in successive balls and also almost took a hat-trick as his delivery came too close to Shivam Dube's (27) bat and the stumps. Dube, who got run out in the final over due to a misunderstanding with Rinku Singh, hit three fours and one six to push the India total close to 180.
A hot fixture of T20 WC
The current game has emerged as a hot focus after all the drama around the subcontinent’s cricket, with Pakistan first refusing to play India and then taking a U-turn following hectic parleys between their board and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and even the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which also refused to send its team to India on security grounds.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026: Full schedule, groups, venues, format after Bangladesh exit
And like a previous occasion, India continued its no-handshake policy, a fallout of the Pahalgam terrorist attack last year, with Suryakumar and his Pakistani counterpart Agha avoiding the usual courtesy during the toss.
Follow live updates of the India vs Pakistan game here.
Live Updates
- 15 Feb 2026 10:47 PM IST
End of the live coverage
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Recalling the match summary, India 175 for 7 in 20 overs beat Pakistan 114 all out by 61 runs. Ishan Kishan picked the man of the match for scoring 77 in 40 balls.
- 15 Feb 2026 10:36 PM IST
This win is for India, says Suryakumar
"This victory is for India. We played the same brand of cricket that we do," India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match interview. Praising Ishan Kishan's initial charge, he conceded that there was a minor hiccup between the seventh and 15th over but gave the credit to the batters such as Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh to take the team total to 175.
He backed his team for putting up such a total on this wicket and applauded the bowling performance put up by his side, particularly the start that Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah gave in the beginning.
His Pakistan counterpart Agha said their plan didn't click despite going into the game with many spinners and also blamed the batters for failing to give a good start. He himself started the bowling attack and picked the all-important wicket of Abhishek Sharma for a duck but faced the Ishan Kishan storm instead.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Team India over their win, saying in a post on X, "Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent."
Well played #TeamIndia 👏
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 15, 2026
Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent.
Congratulations to the entire team.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/K10UPQgZ8n - 15 Feb 2026 10:29 PM IST
Ishan Kishan adjudged player of the match
Ishan Kishan was adjudged the player of the match, something that would not be contested, for his 40-ball 77 on a wicket which was tricky and slow-paced.
Conceding that the wicket was not "that easy", the swashbuckling batter said one had to believe and focus on his strengths. He just kept an eye on the deliveries and stuck to his strengths and made the runs wherever he found the opportunity.
"I did work a lot on my off-side game, so then I can have them bowl where I want them to bowl," he said.
Praising Pakistan's spinners, Kishan said, "They had pretty good spinners in their side. Winning this against Pakistan, it will give us confidence going forward."
- 15 Feb 2026 10:18 PM IST
India bowl out Pakistan for 114, win by 61 runs
Pakistan get bowled out for 114 as Hardik Pandya castles Usman Tariq in the final ball of the 18th over. It is their second-lowest total against India in the T20 World Cup, one run better than the 113 for 7 made in the 2024 encounter in New York, the US. India won the match in Colombo by 61 runs to reach the Super Eight. They now extend their win over their arch-rivals in T20 World Cups to 8-1.
3️⃣/3️⃣ for #TeamIndia 💙
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2026
The #MenInBlue win by 6️⃣1️⃣ runs to qualify for Super 8! 💪
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/IgYYH0TeR9 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/hFPqtYIERe - 15 Feb 2026 10:12 PM IST
Pakistan cross 100, need 70 in 3 overs
Pakistan reach 100 runs with Shaheen Afridi hitting a boundary against part-time bowler Rinku Singh. However, it is far too late and far too many for the Green Shirts to achieve anything substantial here. Pakistan next play Namibia while India take on the Netherlands to complete their group (A) fixtures.
- 15 Feb 2026 10:06 PM IST
Pakistan 97 for 9 after Varun's double strike
A rare slip on the ground today as Tilak Varma spills the catch of Shaheen Shah Afridi off his own bowling in the 14th over. However, Pakistan's joy did not last long as Varun Chakravarthy picks two back-to-back wickets to leave Pakistan at a precarious 97 for 9. They now need 79 off just 26 balls.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:57 PM IST
Trivia: India have won 11 T20 games in Colombo
India have won 11 of their 15 T20 matches played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, before today's match. Pakistan, on the other hand, have won five of their seven games played at the venue. Overall in the T20s, India are on a five-match winning streak against their arch-rivals. The last time Pakistan beat them in a T20 game was in the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:51 PM IST
Agha's team falls like ninepins, loses seventh wicket
Pakistan are now staring at a devastating loss as they lose their seventh wicket with only 78 runs on the board. Part-time spinner Tilak Varma picks a wicket in his very first ball as Shadab Khan gets caught by Shivam Dube as the batter tries to accelerate the scoring. With nearly 100 needed off less than 50 balls and a few wickets remaining, Pakistan seem to have little hopes.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:44 PM IST
Pakistan now 78 for 5, need 98 in 52 balls
A dangerous looking Usman Khan has now been dismissed by Axar Patel, who the batter had hit for a few shots. The keeper-batter's end means Pakistan have now lost half their sides for 70-odd, needing more than 100 still to win this game. At 78 for 5, they now need 98 off 52 balls.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:35 PM IST
Pakistan fight back, need 110 in 11 overs
Usman Khan leads Pakistan fightback despite his team losing four quick wickets. He added an unbeaten 32 runs with Shadab Khan for the fifth wicket as Pakistan reach 66 for 4 after nine overs. Need 110 runs in 11 overs now.
