India Thrash Pakistan by 61 Runs to Enter Super 8 of T20 World Cup 2026

India Thrash Pakistan by 61 Runs to Enter Super 8 of T20 World Cup 2026

The India national cricket team defeated the Pakistan national cricket team by 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium to seal a place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Chasing a competitive 176, Pakistan suffered a dramatic top-order collapse, slipping to 34/4 inside the powerplay. Hardik Pandya struck in the opening over, removing Sahibzada Farhan for a duck. Jasprit Bumrah then tightened the screws, dismissing Saim Ayub (6) and captain Salman Ali Agha (4) to leave Pakistan reeling.

Usman Khan offered resistance with a fighting 44, while Shaheen Shah Afridi remained unbeaten on 23. Shadab Khan chipped in with 14, but the early damage proved too severe as Pakistan were bowled out well short of the target.

The defeat pushed Pakistan to third place in Group A, behind the USA on net run rate, complicating their path to the next round.

Kishan’s Blitz Powers India to 175

Earlier, India posted 175/7 after being put in to bat. Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with a fluent 77 off 40 balls, counter-attacking Pakistan’s early breakthroughs. His aggressive strokeplay steadied the innings and set the platform for a strong finish.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav added a composed 32, rotating strike effectively while keeping the scoreboard ticking.

For Pakistan, Saim Ayub impressed with three wickets, including the key dismissals of Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) off successive deliveries. Usman Tariq chipped in with one wicket, but India’s middle order ensured momentum was maintained.

Pakistan had entered the contest unbeaten, having defeated the Netherlands and the USA, while India had secured wins over the USA and Namibia. Despite Pakistan’s longer stay in Sri Lanka, India adapted swiftly to the Colombo conditions, combining disciplined bowling with calculated aggression.

With this victory, India march confidently into the Super 8 stage, while Pakistan must now rely on a strong net run rate boost in their remaining fixtures to keep their campaign alive.