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 1:11 PM IST
DJ killed in celebratory firing during wedding procession in UP
A DJ operator was killed in alleged celebratory firing during a wedding procession in Gorakhpur, UP, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred in the Gagaha area, around 100 metres before the procession reached Guru Kripa Marriage Hall near Baba Baleshwar Nath temple.
The deceased was identified as Chhotu (18), a resident of Gaushala village under the Gola police station limits. He was operating the DJ system as the groom's procession moved towards the venue.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the 'baraat' of Shubhransh was heading to the marriage hall when the incident took place. As revellers danced to loud music, a youth accompanying the procession allegedly began firing a pistol in the air in celebration.
Witnesses said three shots were fired in quick succession. While two bullets went into the air, the third struck Chhotu in the head, causing him to collapse on the spot. He was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
- 15 Feb 2026 12:46 PM IST
UP cough syrup smuggling case: SP youth wing's former state secy arrested
The Lucknow unit of the Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man in connection with the illegal storage and smuggling of codeine-laced cough syrup for intoxicating purposes, STF officials said on Sunday.
The accused was identified as Amit Yadav, a resident of Maidagin in Varanasi, and was arrested late on Saturday night. According to STF officials, a case was registered against Yadav at the Sushant Golf City police station in Lucknow for cough syrup smuggling, and he was being sought in connection with the case.
During interrogation, Yadav revealed that he had previously served as the president of the student union of Harishchandra Postgraduate College, Varanasi, and the state secretary of the Samajwadi Party Yuvjan Sabha.
Amit revealed that he had met Shubham Jaisal, the alleged kingpin of the cough syrup racket, while studying at Harishchandra College.
Shaili Traders, the firm of Shubham's father Bhola Prasad was allegedly involved in smuggling Phensedyl cough syrup from Abbott.
Cough syrup containing codeine is used as an intoxicant and is in high demand in West Bengal and Bangladesh, making its smuggling highly profitable.
- 15 Feb 2026 12:44 PM IST
21 lakh devotees take holy dip in Ganga, Sangam on Magh Mela's last day
On the occasion of Mahashivratri, the last bathing day of the ongoing Magh Mela, 21 lakh devotees have taken a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam by 10 am, an official said on Sunday.
A mela authority official said that devotees have been arriving at the fair area and bathing since late Saturday night. By 10 am on Sunday, 21 lakh devotees have bathed in the Ganga and Sangam, the official said.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said that adequate security arrangements have been made at all the ghats. SDRF and NDRF teams are deployed, along with boatmen and divers. Verma said that adequate changing rooms are available at all the ghats, and the fair area is being monitored through CCTV cameras and drones.
- 15 Feb 2026 11:22 AM IST
Five held after encounter in connection with Dalit man's murder in UP's Ballia
Five men, including three named accused, were arrested following a police encounter in connection with the murder of a 30-year-old Dalit man in the Rasra area here, officials said on Sunday.
Two of the accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs during the exchange of fire, they said. According to police, Satya Prakash Ram, a resident of Gurgujpur village in Rasra, was returning home on Saturday afternoon when he was allegedly stabbed to death by three men near a liquor shop in Sawara village following an argument.
Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's brother, Om Prakash, a case was registered against Sundaram Singh, Raja Singh, and Umakant Pandey -- all residents of Sawara village -- under section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Ballia Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh on Sunday said Pandey was arrested soon after the incident.
- 15 Feb 2026 11:01 AM IST
West Indies win toss, opt to bowl against Nepal
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl against Nepal in their T20 World Cup match in Mumbai on Sunday. Both sides made one change each from their previous match playing XIs.
For the West Indies, Romario Shepherd will miss the match due to a niggle and Matthew Forde replaces him. Sompal Kami comes in for Nepal in place of Lalit Rajbanshi.
Teams: West Indies: Shai Hope (w/c), Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (w), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane.
- 15 Feb 2026 10:18 AM IST
India right place to host AI summit: UN Chief Guterres
India is a "very successful" emerging economy with a bigger influence in global affairs, and is the “right place” to host the AI summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.
In an exclusive interview with PTI at the UN Headquarters ahead of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, Guterres underscored that Artificial Intelligence should benefit the entire world and not just be a privilege reserved for developed nations or two superpowers.
“I strongly congratulate India for organising this Summit. It's absolutely essential that AI develops itself to the benefit of everybody, everywhere and that countries in the Global South are part of the benefits of AI,” he said.
The high-powered event being held from February 16 to 20 will be the first-ever AI summit hosted in the Global South and is anchored in the three guiding principles of ‘People, Planet and Progress’.
Guterres, who will be travelling to India to attend the Summit, asserted “it would be totally unacceptable that AI would be just a privilege of the most developed countries or a division only between two superpowers”, an apparent reference to the US and China.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:30 AM IST
Father sells baby boy for Rs 1 lakh in Odisha; child rescued, 2 detained
Odisha Police have rescued a two-and-a-half-year-old boy who was allegedly sold by his father to a man for Rs 1 lakh, officials said.
Both the seller and the buyer have been detained. The incident, which took place at Barisahi village in Nilgiri Notified Area Council area, came to light after a video purportedly showing the father bargaining with a prospective buyer went viral on social media.
A local activist subsequently lodged a complaint at Nilgiri police station. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
"The baby was rescued from Chiminibhati area and handed over to the child welfare committee. Further investigation is underway," Nilgiri Sub-divisional Police Officer Pramod Kumar Mallick said, adding police have detained two persons in this connection.
Police identified the father as Rakesh Kumar Behera alias Kua, a mason, who allegedly received Rs 50,000 as the first installment.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:26 AM IST
Kochi father-daughter deaths: Autopsy reveals sexual assault, probe intensifies
The investigation into the deaths of a six-year-old girl and her father in Elamakkara was intensified after an autopsy report revealed the child had been sexually assaulted prior to her death in January, police said on Sunday.
On January 16, the girl was allegedly poisoned before her father died by suicide at the rented house in Kochi. Police officials said the autopsy report revealed that the deceased child was allegedly sexually assaulted for the past one year.
The child's mother has told investigators that the family was unaware of any such incident. According to police, she told them there was a quarrel over a financial matter with her husband on the day the father and daughter were found dead.
An officer at the Elamakkara police station said the statements of relatives and people close to the family would be recorded soon. The police will also speak to the teachers of the educational institution where the child was studying, the officer said.
- 15 Feb 2026 9:21 AM IST
PM Modi extends birthday wishes to Union minister Hardeep Puri
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday wishes to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, praising his efforts to make India self-reliant in the petroleum and natural gas sectors and wishing him long life and good health.
- 15 Feb 2026 8:28 AM IST
Probe into Ahmedabad air crash still underway: Mohol
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has refuted a foreign media report about the probe into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last year, stating that the investigation is still going on.
An Italian daily had claimed that agencies probing the crash blamed the pilots in their report.
"I just want to inform you all that our investigation agencies are probing the matter. Should we have faith in our own agencies or outsiders? Our agencies are working on it," Mohol said here on Saturday. "Once the final report is finalised, then only it will be justifiable to comment on it," he added.
In one of the worst aircraft accidents in India, a total of 260 persons, including 241 passengers, died after Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed soon after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
On Thursday, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the probe was still in progress and no final conclusions have been reached. It said media reports suggesting that the investigation into the accident has been finalised are "incorrect and speculative".
