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Pakistan teammates during the mid-innings break against India in the T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on February 15, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
COLOMBO:
Pakistan’s long-running World Cup woes against India continued on Sunday, as the team suffered a heavy 61-run defeat in a high-pressure Group A Twenty20 clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in the Sri Lankan capital.
Chasing a target of 176, Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed to 114 in just 18 overs as the top four batsmen failed to deliver under intense pressure.
This meeting, initially threatened with a boycott after Pakistan expressed solidarity with Bangladesh for security reasons, was only confirmed last week following the intervention of the ICC.
The match reignited the familiar intensity of the India-Pakistan rivalry, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav again refusing to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Agha during the toss, repeating a pattern seen at last year’s Asia Cup.
Batting first at the invitation of Pakistan, India posted a score of 175-7, largely thanks to opener Ishan Kishan’s 77 off 40 balls, including three sixes and ten fours. Despite the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, who returned to the side after a stomach infection but fell for Agha, India recovered thanks to contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Shivam Dube (27). Pakistani spinner Saim Ayub provided resistance, removing Kishan, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in successive deliveries, momentarily slowing India’s momentum.
In response, Pakistan suffered an immediate and devastating collapse. Opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck by Pandya, followed by Saim Ayub and Salman Agha at the same time, reducing the team to 13-3. Babar Azam managed just five runs before falling to Axar Patel, leaving Pakistan reeling at 38-4 after the powerplay.
Usman Khan provided some resistance with 44 runs off 34 balls, hitting a six and six fours, but was ultimately stumped by Kishan off Patel. A mini-collapse followed, with Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and others falling cheaply, leaving Pakistan bowled out for 114.
Shaheen Shah Afridi did not stay away on the 23rd, but the damage was already done. Pandya, Bumrah, Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets each, with Indian bowlers consistently preventing Pakistan from recovering.
The defeat extends India’s dominance over Pakistan in the World Cup: India have now won eight of nine T20 World Cup encounters and all eight ODI World Cup matches between their rivals. Pakistan, who also lost all three of their Asia Cup matches against India last year, will now have to beat Namibia in their final group match to keep their progression hopes alive.
Speaking after the match, Suryakumar Yadav reflected on Kishan’s performance: “I think it’s for India. Batting first was the best option on this wicket. The way Ishan took responsibility after the early loss of his opening partner was incredible.”
For Pakistan, captain Salman Agha said during the toss that the decision to bowl first was guided by the slightly cheesy pitch, which he believed would help the bowlers early on. “It’s a big game, but everyone is relaxed and focused, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Matches between cricket’s neighbors, who are nuclear-armed rivals, are held only at neutral venues in multinational tournaments, more than 18 years have passed since a Test match and 13 years since a bilateral series. This latest competition in Colombo has once again captured the world’s attention, combining equal parts sport, emotion and high stakes.
(WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGENCIES)
