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IND vs PAK :India Crush Pakistan by 61 Runs in T20 World Cup Thriller at Colombo

Feb 16, 2026
IND vs PAK :India Crush Pakistan by 61 Runs in T20 World Cup Thriller at Colombo

India’s innings started with immediate tension. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, trapped lbw, giving Pakistan early momentum. The new ball was gripping slightly off the surface, and Pakistan’s bowlers kept things tight in the powerplay.

At 15/1, the pressure was clearly on.


Ishan Kishan Takes Control

That’s when Ishan Kishan stepped in and completely shifted the momentum.

He began cautiously, respecting the pitch conditions, but once settled, he unleashed a mix of elegant stroke play and aggressive hitting. He targeted the spinners particularly well, using his feet and clearing the infield with confidence.

  • 77 runs off 40 balls

  • Multiple boundaries through cover and mid-wicket

  • Crucial acceleration after the 8th over

He anchored the innings while maintaining a strong strike rate.


Middle Overs Stabilization

Suryakumar Yadav played a smart supporting role, rotating strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries. His 32 off 29 balls may not look explosive, but it was crucial in building a solid partnership.

Pakistan relied heavily on spin, bowling the majority of overs through their slower options to exploit the surface. For a brief period between overs 9–13, India’s scoring rate dipped below 7 runs per over.

But Kishan’s intent never allowed Pakistan full control.


Death Overs Acceleration

In the final five overs, India shifted gears. Quick cameos from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh added valuable late runs.

A few big hits in the 18th and 19th overs pushed India past 170 — a total that looked slightly above par on that slow pitch.

India finished at:

175/7 in 20 overs

At the innings break, the feeling was that India had scored 20–25 runs more than what the surface suggested.


Pakistan Innings – 114 All Out (18 Overs)

Dream Start for India

Pakistan’s chase got off to the worst possible start.

On the very first ball, Hardik Pandya induced a top edge from the opener attempting a slog. The ball went high, and the catch was safely taken. Pakistan were 0/1.

In the next over, Jasprit Bumrah produced a masterclass with the new ball. His precise line and late seam movement resulted in two quick wickets, dismantling Pakistan’s top order.

Within the powerplay, Pakistan had collapsed to 34/4.


Babar’s Early Exit

One of the biggest turning points came when Babar Azam was dismissed cheaply. Attempting to steady the innings, he misjudged the spin and was caught after failing to accelerate.

That wicket effectively broke Pakistan’s backbone in the chase.


Usman Khan’s Resistance

Amid the collapse, Usman Khan fought back with a spirited knock of 44 off 34 balls.

He attacked the spinners, played some fearless shots over mid-wicket, and briefly gave Pakistan hope. For a short period around the 10th–12th overs, Pakistan seemed to regain some rhythm.

But the required run rate kept climbing above 11 per over.


Spin Choke & Final Collapse

India’s bowlers never allowed a partnership to build.

Hardik Pandya returned to remove a settled batter. Bumrah continued to apply pressure with yorkers and hard lengths. Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel extracted turn from the surface, making scoring extremely difficult.

When Usman Khan was finally dismissed, Pakistan’s resistance ended.

Pakistan were bowled out for:

114 in 18 overs


Bowling Performances

  • Hardik Pandya: 2/16 – breakthrough strikes

  • Jasprit Bumrah: 2/17 – clinical powerplay spell

  • Spin unit controlled middle overs brilliantly

India’s bowling unit executed their plans perfectly — tight lines, smart field placements, and disciplined death bowling.


Tactical Analysis

  • The pitch was slow and assisted spin.

  • Pakistan relied heavily on spin during India’s innings.

  • India assessed conditions better and adapted their pace.

  • Pakistan’s batting struggled against disciplined bowling.

India outperformed Pakistan in:

  • Powerplay control

  • Middle-over partnerships

  • Death-over execution

  • Fielding intensity


Final Scorecard

Team Score Overs
India 175/7 20
Pakistan 114 18

Result: India won by 61 runs
Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan


Conclusion

This was one of India’s most commanding victories over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history. From Kishan’s fearless batting to Bumrah’s lethal spell, India dominated every phase of the game.

With this win, India strengthened their position in the tournament and sent a strong message to other teams in the competition.

W
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