T20 World Cup: Ishan Kishan blitz guides India to big win over Pakistan

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.