T20 World Cup 2026: India overpower Pakistan in Colombo to reach Super 8s
India continued their recent dominance over Pakistan in a one-sided T20 World Cup meeting in Colombo, beating their regional rivals by 61 runs to secure a place in the Super 8s. The fixture, long shadowed by off-field tension and last-minute uncertainty, was settled by an aggressive opening innings and clinical death bowling.
Kishan's assault sets the tone
India posted 175 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, a total built predominantly on an explosive start from opener Ishan Kishan. Kishan smashed 77 off 40 balls on a turning pitch that offered assistance to spinners, giving India the momentum they needed. Regular breakthroughs from Pakistan's spin attack slowed the flow at times, but the early onslaught left the chase asking too much.
The scoreboard reads: India 175-7 (20 overs); Kishan 77; Ayub 3-25. That platform allowed India to rotate the strike and accelerate when required, turning a potentially tricky surface into a defendable total.
Bowlers choke chase as Pakistan fall short
Pakistan never recovered from a sharp early double blow. Hardik Pandya struck in the first over of the chase and Jasprit Bumrah added two quick wickets in the second, effectively tilting the contest decisively in India's favour. Usman Khan provided some resistance with 44 off 34 balls, but the required scoring rate climbed too steeply on a pitch that rewarded disciplined lines.
India's bowlers shared the wickets: Hardik 2-16, Chakravarthy 2-17, Bumrah 2-17. Pakistan were dismissed for 114 in 18 overs, well short of the target. The final margin — 61 runs — underlined the comprehensive nature of the victory.
Implications and what comes next in the ind vs pak chapter
The result confirms India's place in the Super 8s as they bid to defend the title they claimed in 2024. The win also extended India's run against Pakistan to nine successive victories in completed matches. Off the field, tensions that dogged the build-up were muted on the field: the captains did not shake hands at the toss and there were no exchanges after the final play, but the match itself passed without further incident.
For Pakistan, the road to the Super 8s is now narrower. They must beat Namibia on Wednesday (ET) to guarantee progression. If Pakistan prevail, the tournament still holds the prospect of a rematch later on — potentially in a semi-final or final — adding another layer to this high-profile rivalry.
This encounter further reinforced the sporting dynamic of ind vs pak fixtures: high emotion, global attention and decisive individual performances that can swing momentum quickly. With both teams still harbouring title ambitions, the remainder of the group stage will be watched closely to see how each side responds.
In Colombo, the cricket on display belonged to the players: a commanding batting display to set up a defendable total, then tight, well-executed bowling to close out the game. The result shapes the immediate futures of both sides in the tournament and keeps alive the narrative that surrounds one of cricket's most intense rivalries.
