Colombo, Feb 15 : India registered a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in a high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 175/7 in their allotted 20 overs, setting Pakistan a target of 176 runs, as per news agency JKNS.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan starred with a blistering 77 off just 40 balls, showcasing aggressive strokeplay and smart placement before being bowled by Saim Ayub.

India’s innings had a shaky start as opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck, giving Pakistan an early breakthrough. However, Kishan steadied the innings and built crucial momentum. Late contributions from Shivam Dube (27) and Rinku Singh (11) further strengthened India’s total. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the standout bowler, claiming 3/25, including two wickets in consecutive deliveries to briefly check India’s progress.

In reply, Pakistan’s chase never gained momentum. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub fell early for 0 and 6 respectively, while Babar Azam managed just five runs. Usman Khan fought back with a top score of 44, but lacked support from the rest of the batting line-up as Pakistan were bowled out 61 runs short of the target.

The emphatic win once again underlined India’s dominance and depth in both batting and bowling departments in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries. (JKNS)