A brilliant 77 off 40 balls by Ishan Kishan on a slow, spin-friendly pitch helped India beat Pakistan by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup and secure a place in the Super Eights.
India posted 175 for 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium, a total that proved well above par on a tacky surface. Pakistan responded with 114 all out, despite a fighting 44 from Usman Khan.
After Pakistan chose to field, the pitch conditions were clear early. The visitors bowled 18 overs of spin, but Kishan dominated regardless. India lost three wickets in the first two overs, yet Kishan controlled the innings and lifted the total far beyond what the surface suggested.
The contrast was stark. Apart from Kishan, the rest of India’s innings, including extras, managed 98 runs off 80 balls. Pakistan’s chase followed a similar pattern, scoring at just over a run a ball, largely due to Usman’s resistance.
Pakistan’s bowling choices raised questions. Salman Agha opened the bowling with offspin against two left-handers, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a duck, but Kishan countered aggressively. He pulled Shaheen Shah Afridi for six and repeatedly attacked the spinners, refusing to let them settle.
Kishan swept Abrar Ahmed for six first ball and brought up his fifty in just 27 deliveries. Despite Pakistan having multiple spinners capable of turning the ball away from left-handers, they persisted with legspin and paid the price. By the time Saim Ayub dismissed Kishan, he had scored 77 of India’s first 88 runs.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma then stabilised the innings, adding 38 runs, while late contributions from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh helped India finish strongly.
In reply, Pakistan collapsed early. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah struck in the powerplay, reducing Pakistan to 34 for 4. Babar Azam fell to Axar Patel, and the match quickly slipped away.
Usman offered brief hope with some clean hitting, including taking 27 runs off Axar, but his dismissal ended Pakistan’s chances. India completed their biggest T20I win over Pakistan, extending their T20 World Cup record against their rivals to 8–1.
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