India dominated Pakistan by 61 runs in their highly anticipated clash at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, maintaining their stranglehold over their arch-rivals in World Cup encounters.
Ishan Kishan’s blistering 77 off 40 balls on a challenging surface powered India to 175/7 despite Pakistan deploying six spinners and bowling 18 overs of spin – the most in a T20 World Cup innings. Chasing 176, Pakistan crumbled to 38/4 in the powerplay as Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), Hardik Pandya (2/16) and Axar Patel (2/29) ripped through the top order.
Despite Usman Khan’s fighting 44 off 34 balls, Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs with Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/14) maintaining the stranglehold. The victory extended India’s dominance in World Cup clashes to 8-1.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup, Group A |
| Venue | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Result | India won by 61 runs |
| India | 175/7 (20 overs) |
| Pakistan | 114 (18 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Ishan Kishan (77 off 40) |
| Toss | Pakistan won and chose to field |
First Innings Highlights
Pakistan’s strategy of bowling spin backfired as Ishan Kishan tore into the attack on a tacky pitch. Salman Agha’s gamble to open the bowling paid off immediately when he dismissed Abhishek Sharma (0 off 4) caught at mid-on for a duck.
However, Ishan counter-attacked ferociously, smashing Shaheen Afridi’s first ball for six over square leg and racing to 42 off 25 balls in the powerplay as India reached 52/1. He combined with Tilak Varma (25 off 24 with 2 fours, 1 six) for an 87-run partnership, treating the spinners with disdain. Ishan reached his fifty off just 27 balls with three consecutive fours off Abrar Ahmed before hammering Shadab Khan for 6, 4, 4 in one over.
His knock of 77 off 40 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes) became the highest individual score in India-Pakistan T20Is, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 82*. Saim Ayub finally broke through, bowling Ishan with sharp turn before dismissing Tilak and Hardik off successive deliveries. Shivam Dube’s 27 off 17 (3 fours, 1 six) and Rinku Singh’s quick-fire 11 off 4 (1 four, 1 six) pushed India to 175/7. Saim Ayub finished with excellent figures of 3/25 from his four overs.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Ishan Kishan | 77 runs (40 balls, 10×4, 3×6) |
| Best Bowler | Saim Ayub | 4-0-25-3 |
Second Innings Highlights
Pakistan’s chase collapsed within the powerplay as India’s new-ball bowlers struck repeatedly. Hardik Pandya, surprisingly given the new ball, removed Sahibzada Farhan (0 off 4) caught at mid-on in his first over.
Jasprit Bumrah then produced a masterclass, dismissing Saim Ayub (6 off 2 with 1 six) with a peach of an inswinger and having Salman Agha (4 off 4) caught at mid-on. Pakistan slumped to 13/3 before Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam (5) with one that gripped and turned. At 38/4 in the powerplay, Pakistan were already out of the contest.
Usman Khan provided lone resistance with a battling 44 off 34 balls (6 fours, 1 six), striking some crisp boundaries and keeping Pakistan’s faint hopes alive. Shadab Khan (14 off 15) briefly supported before Tilak Varma had him caught.
The middle order collapsed as Kuldeep Yadav removed Mohammad Nawaz (4) and Varun Chakaravarthy struck twice in the 16th over, trapping Abrar Ahmed (0) lbw and having Faheem Ashraf (10) caught. Shaheen Afridi (23* off 19) hit some lusty blows at the end, but Hardik Pandya cleaned up the tail, bowling Usman Tariq to seal a comprehensive 61-run victory.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Usman Khan | 44 runs (34 balls, 6×4, 1×6) |
| Best Bowler | Jasprit Bumrah | 2-0-17-2 |
