India thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday to book their place in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s.
In a high-pressure Group clash, India dominated with both bat and ball. Pakistan had chosen to field first, but that decision did not work in their favour.
India posted a strong 175 for 7 after being put in to bat. The star of the show was Ishan Kishan, who smashed 77 off just 40 balls.
Kishan’s knock had 10 fours and 3 sixes. He attacked from the start and never let Pakistan settle. He added 87 runs with Tilak Varma, who chipped in with 25. Their stand gave India the perfect platform in the middle overs.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 32 and kept the scoreboard ticking. Shivam Dube added 27 with some clean hits.
Rinku Singh finished in style with an unbeaten 11 off just 4 balls. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the best bowler with 3 for 25.
Bowlers Seal the Deal
Pakistan’s chase never really took off. They were reduced to 13 for 3 inside the first two overs. That early collapse hurt them badly, and they never recovered from it.
Usman Khan tried to fight back with 44 runs. Shaheen Afridi also played a brave unbeaten knock of 23. But the target was too big, and India’s bowlers were too sharp.
Hardik Pandya led the charge with 2 for 16, including a maiden over. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy also picked up two wickets each, both finishing with 2 for 17.
Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs. The Indian players celebrated loudly as the win was sealed.
With this result, India improved their T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to 8–1. They now move into the Super 8 stage with confidence.
Speaking after the match, Suryakumar Yadav said, “I think this is for India. We played the same brand of cricket what we wanted to play. Batting first was better option on this wicket. We’ll go back, have a good time together as a team and then think about the other games when we take the flight to Ahmedabad.”
India will next face Netherlands, while Pakistan take on Namibia. A loss for Pakistan in that match will almost certainly end their campaign.