India vs Pakistan LIVE: T20 World Cup 2026 — India set Pakistan 176 in Colombo
India posted 175/7 in Colombo in a blockbuster Group A encounter, led by a whirlwind 77 from Ishan Kishan. Pakistan stumbled early in the chase, slipping to 13-3 as Jasprit Bumrah struck twice and Saim Ayub finished with 3-25. The match comes after the Pakistani government lifted an order that had called for a boycott, restoring a charged atmosphere to this marquee rivalry on Sunday evening ET.
Kishan's whirlwind gives India the edge
Ishan Kishan provided the catalyst with a brutal 77 off 40 balls, a blend of power hitting and smart placement that kick-started India's innings. He smashed three sixes and ten fours as India recovered from an early shock of losing Abhishek Sharma for a duck. Suryakumar Yadav contributed a valuable 32 to keep momentum, while Tilak Varma's 25 and late cameos from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh propelled the total past the 170 mark.
India's decision to include an extra spin option paid off on a slowish surface. The bowling mix kept Pakistan guessing through stretches of the innings, but it was Kishan's burst that ultimately set the platform for a competitive total. The 175/7 represents the highest tally in an India–Pakistan meeting at this T20 World Cup venue, underscoring how aggressive intent tilted an otherwise cautious pitch in India's favour.
Bumrah early blows and Saim's three-wicket burst
Pakistan's chase began in chaotic fashion. Jasprit Bumrah burst in with a pair of early strikes that left Pakistan reeling at 13-3. A mix of precise yorkers and deceptive pace unsettled the top order: one yorker pinned an inside edge for six earlier, but Bumrah responded immediately with a clinical delivery that uprooted a key batter.
There were flashes of intent from Pakistan — Usman Khan carved a full-blooded six over the long-off boundary off Hardik Pandya, and Salman Agha managed a crisp mid-wicket single before departing the next ball. But the pattern was clear: India found breakthroughs at crucial moments and did not allow Pakistan to settle.
Leg-spin emerged as a decisive factor when Saim Ayub produced a match-turning spell. He finished with 3-25, claiming Kishan in the earlier innings and then chipping in with two more scalp-taking deliveries in the chase, narrowly missing a hat-trick at one point. His wristy variations and changes of pace exploited the sluggish conditions and pushed Pakistan further behind the required run rate.
Tactical shifts, bigger picture in Group A
Both teams arrive at this clash unbeaten in their groups, so the result carries significant weight for Super Eight hopes. India’s rotation of personnel — notably bringing in Kuldeep Yadav for Arshdeep Singh — signalled a desire to control the middle overs with spin and to capitalise on the slow pitch. Pakistan’s bold choice to open the bowling with their captain initially showed aggressive intent, but the gamble yielded mixed returns as early wickets put them on the back foot.
Fielding and death bowling will be under the microscope as Pakistan attempt a recovery. The onus is on experienced batters to rebuild after the early collapse and to rotate the strike while hunting boundaries. For India, maintaining the pressure with accurate seam work and timely variations will be key to protecting a defendable total in Colombo.
This contest remains finely poised with plenty of cricket left to play. With both teams carrying unbeaten records in Group A into this fixture, the outcome will shape the balance of power heading deeper into the tournament.
