Press Trust of India (PTI)
India delivered a commanding performance to crush Pakistan by 61 runs in a high-voltage T20 World Cup clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, sealing their place in the Super 8 stage. The emphatic victory now stands as India’s biggest win over Pakistan in T20 International history in terms of run margin, further extending their dominance in World Cup encounters to 8-1.
Chasing a competitive target of 176, Pakistan were bundled out for just 114 in a one-sided contest that quickly turned into a showcase of India’s all-round superiority.
Kishan’s 77 Sets the Tone on Testing Pitch
After being asked to bat first on a sluggish Premadasa surface, India posted 175 for seven, courtesy of a breathtaking 77 off 40 balls by Ishan Kishan. Blending power with placement, Kishan’s knock proved decisive on a pitch where stroke-making was far from easy.
The left-hander stitched an 87-run second-wicket stand with Tilak Varma, who contributed 11, stabilising the innings after Abhishek Sharma fell early to Salman Ali Agha’s off-spin. Kishan dominated Pakistan’s bowling attack, dismantling pacers and spinners alike.
He launched Shaheen Shah Afridi with a commanding pull and later tore into Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, racing to his half-century in just 27 deliveries. His calculated aggression ensured India maintained momentum through the middle overs despite the surface offering assistance to bowlers.
Kishan’s innings ended when he attempted to clear mid-wicket against Saim Ayub but missed completely, losing his stumps. Pakistan briefly clawed back as Ayub removed Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in successive deliveries, reducing India to 126 for four.
However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s 32 and Shivam Dube’s brisk 27 ensured India crossed the 170-mark. A 15-run final over off Afridi, powered by Dube and Rinku Singh, proved crucial in stretching the total beyond Pakistan’s reach.
Bumrah, Pandya Rip Through Pakistan’s Top Order
Pakistan’s chase never gained momentum. Hardik Pandya struck in the opening over as Sahibzada Farhan miscued a short ball to Rinku Singh. What followed was a clinical spell from Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah dismissed Saim Ayub with a lethal inswinging yorker before inducing Salman Ali Agha into a mistimed stroke. Pakistan were reeling at 13 for three, and their troubles deepened when Babar Azam’s slog sweep off Axar Patel resulted in his stumps being shattered.
Their Powerplay yielded just 38 for four, compared to India’s 52 for one, highlighting the gulf in execution under pressure.
Bumrah returned figures of 2 for 17, while Pandya finished with 2 for 16, setting the tone for India’s bowling dominance. The spin quartet of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Tilak Varma and Varun Chakravarthy tightened the screws during the middle overs, leaving Pakistan with no route back into the contest.
In contrast to India’s calculated aggression, Pakistan struggled to show either skill or composure against disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
“The 61-run win is India’s biggest victory over Pakistan in T20I format in terms of run margin.”
With this commanding performance, India not only secured qualification for the Super 8 but also reaffirmed their supremacy in cricket’s most intense rivalry on the global stage.
