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 7:00 PM IST
Play begins: Ishan Kishan faces Salman Agha
In-form Ishan Kishan faces first ball from captain Salman Ali Agha.
- 15 Feb 2026 6:47 PM IST
'Good batting conditions, surface may slow down later'
PITCH REPORT: Reporting on the pitch, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said the surface seemed well-rolled and hard, adding that it is the same wicket where Zimbabwe stunned Australia a few days ago. It was though a day game. He said the India-Pakistan game, being a night fixture, and the pitch having been rolled well, could see a good batting display from either side. He said the surface could slow down over time. Parthiv Patel, the other specialist and also a former India cricketer, spoke about the dimensions of the ground and said the batters would have to hit with precise execution while playing big shots.
- 15 Feb 2026 6:43 PM IST
India and Pakistan playing XIs: Abhishek, Kuldeep back
Playing XIs:
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed
- 15 Feb 2026 6:38 PM IST
Pakistan win toss, to bowl first
Pakistan win the toss and elect to bowl first.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said the surface looked tacky and expected it to assist the bowlers in the first few overs, something which he wanted to exploit. Pakistan have won both their games in this tournament so far, against the Netherlands and the US, in Sri Lanka.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said they were looking to bat first anyhow. India have won their previous two matches batting first and did not want to change things. India have beaten the US and Namibia in their two games so far. He said opener Abhishek Sharma is back into the playing XI.
- 15 Feb 2026 6:36 PM IST
Trivia: Neither India nor Pakistan have scored 200 against each other in a T20 WC game
Neither India nor Pakistan have succeeded in breaching the 200-run mark in their prestige clashes in the T20 World Cup. For India, the highest has been 160/6, while for Pakistan, it is 159/8. The scores came in the same match in Melbourne in the 2022 edition, which is remembered for Kohli’s match-winning heroics (82 not out in 53 balls). Can Suryakumar's boys raise the bar today? They are ready for the big occasion.
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨 🏟️#TeamIndia are all set for their Match 3️⃣ of #T20WorldCup 2026 💙#MenInBlue pic.twitter.com/tfgTKtWSW0
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2026 - 15 Feb 2026 6:29 PM IST
Will it rain in the clash of titans? What local Met office is saying
The build-up to the much-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash in Colombo has been overshadowed by an ominous weather forecast. However, there is some good news now for cricket fans.
According to reports, the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology has now said that conditions will remain cloudy in Colombo but there may not be any rain.
On the other hand, parts of the country's eastern and southern provinces are expected to experience heavy rain. However, Colombo, which is in the Western Province, is expected to remain dry with misty conditions at night.
- 15 Feb 2026 6:21 PM IST
India have 7-1 lead over Pakistan in T20 World Cups
India vs Pakistan head-to-head in T20 World Cup:
Total matches 8, India won 7 Pakistan 1
India have won the tournament twice, in 2007 and 2024, and finished runners-up in 2014. Pakistan won the title once, in 2009, and finished runners-up in 2007 and 2022.
In T20s, India have a 13-3 lead over the arch-rivals. The last time the two teams met was in Asia Cup in the UAE in 2025 where the Men in Blue won all three matches.
In all World Cups, including the T20 and 50-over, India lead Pakistan 16-1.
- 15 Feb 2026 6:10 PM IST
India to continue with its 'no handshake' policy versus Pakistan
India captain Suryakumar Yadav will not indulge in the customary handshake with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha during toss of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday, maintaining the status quo since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed.
"The no-handshake policy will continue," a BCCI official in Colombo said, requesting anonymity.
There will also be no handshake between players and support staff of two teams after the end of the match, a norm that has been followed by Suryakumar as a mark of respect for the families of the victims killed in the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and solidarity towards the Indian Army in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
- 15 Feb 2026 5:58 PM IST
India take on Pakistan in T20 World Cup clash in Colombo
India to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial group game in the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. India and Pakistan have faced each other eight times in the T20 World Cup, starting from the inaugural edition in 2007. India won six of those matches outright, while one game went in their favour in a Bowl Out. Pakistan have beaten India only once, which was in the 2021 edition in the UAE.
- 15 Feb 2026 1:29 PM IST
Award-winning farmer ends life over debt in Kerala
A 62-year-old award-winning farmer allegedly died by suicide due to mounting financial debt at Cherupuzha in Kerala's Kannur district, police said.
The deceased was identified as Ambattu Elias, a native of Idavaram in Cherupuzha. According to family sources, he allegedly consumed pesticide and was found in a critical condition at his farm three days ago.
Elias had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the district, where he later succumbed. Financial liabilities to the tune of several lakhs of rupees are suspected to have driven him to take the extreme step.
Elias had been cultivating vegetables on a leased land for nearly four decades in the hilly regions of Kannur and neighbouring Kasaragod district. He had planted around 2,500 banana saplings this season also, but his income did not match the yield, leaving him in distress, sources added.
