India secured a spot in the T20 World Cup Super-Eights with a dominant victory over Pakistan.
India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in a Group A match of the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Ishan Kishan scored 77 off 40 balls to help India post 175-7 before their bowlers restricted Pakistan to 114 in 18 overs.
This result underscores the intense cricket rivalry between the two nations, which often amplifies national sentiments across South Asia. With India advancing to the T20 World Cup Super Eights, the win boosts regional interest in the tournament, where South Asian teams like India and Pakistan drive viewership and economic impact through broadcasting and sponsorships.
India Vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Match Details
India won the toss and elected to bat first in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 encounter. The lineup featured Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan as wicketkeeper, Tilak Varma, captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.
India reached 175-7 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan 77 came off 40 deliveries, including aggressive pulls and drives. Suryakumar Yadav added 32, while Shivam Dube scored 27 and Tilak Varma 25. Pakistan used six spinners, a first in T20 World Cup history, with Saim Ayub taking 3-25.
Pakistan elected to field, but their strategy faltered. Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed bowled in the death overs, conceding 86 runs in six overs. Fall of wickets included Abhishek Sharma for 0, dismissed lbw by Salman Ali Agha.
Ishan Kishan 77 Powers India
Ishan Kishan 77 proved decisive. He reached his fifty in 27 balls and dominated Pakistan’s spin attack. Kishan targeted gaps on the off side and exploited larger boundaries. His dismissal came via Saim Ayub after a reverse-pull for four.
Supporting batsmen struggled on the slow pitch. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added 38 off 33 balls. Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh provided late acceleration, with Dube scoring 27 off 17 and Singh 11 off 4.
Pakistan’s bowling featured 18 overs of spin. Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan supported Ayub. Salman Ali Agha opened the bowling.
India Beat Pakistan 61 Runs In Chase
Pakistan chased 176 but collapsed to 114 in 18 overs. Usman Khan scored 44 off 34 balls, including sixes and fours. Sahibzada Farhan fell for 0 to Hardik Pandya. Saim Ayub made 6 before lbw to Jasprit Bumrah. Captain Salman Ali Agha scored 4, caught by Pandya off Bumrah.
Babar Azam managed 5, bowled by Axar Patel. Pakistan reached 38-4 after the powerplay. Shadab Khan scored 14, Mohammad Nawaz 4, Faheem Ashraf 10, and Shaheen Afridi 23 not out. Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq scored 0.
India’s bowlers excelled. Hardik Pandya took 2-16, Jasprit Bumrah 2-17, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-17, and Axar Patel 2-29. Kuldeep Yadav claimed 1-14, Tilak Varma 1-11.
Post-Match Reactions
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said: “This win is for India. The message was to play the same brand of cricket and not change the approach because of the occasion, and they did so. Batting first was the better option on this surface. Praises Ishan for continuing to bat the way he had been doing in the lead-up to the tournament and he carried that same intent into the match. After the early wicket, someone had to take responsibility, and Ishan did exactly that.
There was a slight slump between overs 7 and 15, but commends the way Tilak, Rinku and Dube contributed. 175 was 15 to 20 runs above par. A score of 155 would have made it a very tight contest. With the ball, everyone stuck to their plans. Hardik took charge with the new ball, while Bumrah did what he does best. Pleased to see the rest of the bowlers chipped in as well. On the plans for their final league game, they don’t want to think about the next game just yet and will think about it after reaching Ahmedabad (they play Netherlands there on 18th).”
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha stated: “Pakistan stayed committed to their spin-heavy approach, but execution fell short in key phases. The spinners may have had an off day, but the team would continue to back them, given their strong performances over the past six months. Losing three or four wickets in the Powerplay left them chasing the game from the outset. The pitch in the first innings appeared slightly tacky, with the ball gripping.
Pakistan did not execute well enough with the ball. The surface played better in the second innings, but the bowlers failed to adapt. On batting, the side did not apply itself well or give itself a chance to go deep into the contest. Such games bring intense emotions, but the team has enough experience to manage those situations. Need to regroup quickly, with another important game coming up in two days. The defeat is not the end of the road for Pakistan. The upcoming game against Namibia still offers them a chance to qualify for the Super Eights. Importance of moving on quickly and maintaining a positive mindset.”
Player of the match Ishan Kishan commented: “The wicket was not easy at the start, and he looked to keep things simple. Tried to watch the ball closely and played according to the field. Worked a lot on his off side game and trying to find the gaps, especially with the bigger boundaries offering more space to exploit.
They had a target in mind of 160-170, feeling that would be competitive on this surface. An India versus Pakistan clash is always special, not just for the players but for the fans as well. It was an important game, and beating Pakistan gives the team a lot of confidence going forward. Pakistan have quality spinners and the key was to play good, calculated shots against them. With the ball, there was not much assistance for the pacers when he batted earlier against Shaheen Afridi and praises Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah for setting the tone upfront.”
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson added: “We know that it’s a huge event, Pakistan against India. We obviously won five games on the bounce before today so we were confident, but today we got outplayed. I think the ball was spinning quite a lot initially and we started off well but I think the way Kishan played, he took the game away from us.”
Background
The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match carried added context. Pakistan had initially considered a boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh, replaced by Scotland due to security issues in India. They reversed the decision. Captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha did not shake hands at the toss. This win extended India’s T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-1. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, features expanded teams. India entered with two prior wins, while Pakistan held third in Group A.
What’s Next
India face Netherlands on February 18, 2026, in Ahmedabad. A win could top Group A. Pakistan play Namibia on the same day, needing victory to reach the T20 World Cup Super Eights. Their net run rate stands at -0.403. USA hold second with +0.788. Netherlands remain in contention.
India beat Pakistan 61 runs in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026, confirming their T20 World Cup Super Eights berth with a comprehensive display.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 16th, 2026
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
