India Dominate Pakistan to Seal Super 8 Spot: India produced a strong all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by 61 runs in Match 27 of Group A at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The high-voltage clash was played on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Batting first after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl, India posted 175/7 in 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan collapsed under pressure and were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, giving India a convincing victory and a place in the Super 8 stage.
Kishan’s 77 Sets the Platform for India
India had an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the first over. However, Ishan Kishan took control of the innings with an aggressive knock of 77 runs off 40 balls, hitting 10 fours and 3 sixes.
He built a crucial partnership with Tilak Varma and ensured India recovered quickly. Later, useful contributions from the middle order helped India finish strongly.
India Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs (Balls) |
|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan | 77 (40) |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 32 (29) |
| Tilak Varma | 25 (24) |
| Shivam Dube | 27 (17) |
| Rinku Singh | 11* (4) |
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets, while Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq took one each.
Early Collapse Ends Pakistan’s Chase
Pakistan’s chase never gained momentum. India’s bowlers struck early and reduced them to 38/4 inside the powerplay, putting the team under heavy pressure.
Top-order batters including Farhan, Ayub, Salman Agha, and Babar Azam failed to build partnerships. Only Usman Khan (44) and Shaheen Afridi (23)* showed some resistance, but the required run rate kept rising.
Pakistan Batting
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Usman Khan | 44 (34) |
| Shaheen Afridi | 23* (19) |
| Others | Failed to reach 20 |
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114, handing India a big win.
India’s Bowlers Finish the Job
India used both pace and spin effectively to control the match throughout the second innings.
India Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Hardik Pandya | 2/16 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 2 wickets |
| Axar Patel | 2 wickets |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 2 wickets |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1 wicket |
| Tilak Varma | 1 wicket |
Hardik Pandya took the final wicket of Usman Tariq to seal the victory. The disciplined bowling effort ensured Pakistan never came close to the target.
Key Highlights and Records
- India won by 61 runs in a major World Cup clash
- Pakistan recorded their second-biggest defeat by runs in T20 World Cup history
- India now lead 8–1 against Pakistan in T20 World Cups
- The win helped India qualify for the Super 8
Conclusion
India delivered a complete performance in one of cricket’s biggest rivalries. Ishan Kishan’s attacking innings gave the team a strong total, and the bowlers maintained pressure from the start to finish.
With this dominant win, India carry strong momentum into the Super 8, while Pakistan face a tough path ahead to stay in the tournament.
