The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium will be remembered as the night the 8-1 tally was carved into stone. In what can only be described as a humiliating display for the Men in Green, India secured a massive 61-run victory to become the first team to qualify for the Super 8s. After Ishan Kishan’s (77) whirlwind innings propelled India to a record-breaking 175/7, the Indian bowling unit—led by Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya—dismantled the Pakistani chase. Pakistan was bundled out for a measly 114 in 18 overs, leaving their fans in despair and their tournament hopes hanging by a thread.
Match Summary: The Colombo Carnage
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Match 27 - India vs Pakistan
Pitch Insight: A slow and tacky surface where timing was a luxury. While Ishan Kishan made it look easy, the track offered significant turn for the spinners, as evidenced by the 18 overs of spin bowled by Pakistan—a World Cup record.
India’s 61-run victory was a statement of total psychological superiority. After being put in to bat on a tacky Colombo deck, Ishan Kishan (77) single-handedly took the game away from Pakistan in the Powerplay. Despite a middle-order wobble caused by Saim Ayub (3/25), India posted a record-highest total (175) in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup history. Pakistan’s response was a disaster; they slumped to 13/3 within two overs and never recovered. Clinical spells from Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) ensured Pakistan were never in the hunt, eventually folding for 114.
Playing XI - India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026
India
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan (WK), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
Key Stats & Records From Match:
8-1: India has now defeated Pakistan in 8 T20 World Cup matches, while Pakistan has won just 1 of those matches.
11 Consecutive Wins Against Pakistan: India has now defeated Pakistan in 11 consecutive T20 matches.
The Kishan Blitz: Ishan Kishan reached his fifty in just 27 balls, smashing 10 fours and 3 sixes. His aggression meant India scored at 10 runs per over despite Pakistan’s spinners finding grip.
The “Zero-to-Three” Disaster: Pakistan lost their top three—Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Agha—for a combined total of just 10 runs. This was their lowest-ever aggregate against India in a World Cup.
Axar Castles Babar: With Babar Azam looking to rebuild, Axar Patel produced a classic left-arm spinner’s delivery that turned past the bat and rattled the middle stump. That moment officially ended any hopes of a Pakistani miracle.
The "No Handshake" Narrative
The pre-match tension was visible during the toss when Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha did not shake hands—a first for an ICC event in decades. This cold war atmosphere seemingly translated to the field, where India played with an icy focus while Pakistan looked emotionally rattled. Furthermore, the record for most overs of spin (18) bowled in a T20 World Cup innings highlights Pakistan’s lack of confidence in their pace battery on this Colombo surface.
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: The Kishan Carnage
The opening half of the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights belonged entirely to Ishan Kishan. After the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, Kishan launched a relentless assault, scoring 77 off just 40 balls. He shared a vital 87-run stand with Tilak Varma (25), ensuring India maintained a run rate above 9 despite the tacky nature of the Premadasa deck. While Saim Ayub (3/25) pulled things back for Pakistan with a triple-strike in the middle overs, a late cameo from Rinku Singh helped India finish at 175/7—a target that felt like 200 given the conditions.
Second Innings: The "8-1" Bowling Clinic
Pakistan’s chase in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights was a disaster from ball one. Hardik Pandya (2/16) struck in the first over to remove Sahibzada Farhan, followed by a double-strike from Jasprit Bumrah that left Pakistan reeling at 13/3. The middle-order collapse was systemic, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav strangling the scoring rate. Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery variations in the 16th over removed any tail-end resistance. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, completing one of their most humiliating defeats in recent memory.
Top Performers
Ishan Kishan (77 off 40 balls) - Player of the Match
Kishan was the definitive difference. On a pitch where other batters struggled for timing, he played with “heavy artillery,” using the reverse sweep and the swivel-pull to perfection. His 192.5 strike rate put the game beyond Pakistan’s reach before they even began their chase.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/17 off 4 overs) - The Enforcer
Bumrah was simply elite. His opening spell produced the wicket of Saim Ayub with a pinpoint yorker that echoed the greats. He maintained an economy of 4.25, ensuring that the required rate became an insurmountable mountain for the lower order.
Saim Ayub (3/25 off 4 overs) - The Lone Fighter
Despite Pakistan’s humiliating loss, Ayub’s spin was a highlight. He halted India’s momentum by removing Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya on successive deliveries. Without his intervention, India might have cruised past 200.
Key Moments & Turning Points: The "Bat-Stuck" Run Out
The Kishan Blitz: Ishan Kishan reached his fifty in just 27 balls, smashing 10 fours and 3 sixes. His aggression meant India scored at 10 runs per over despite Pakistan’s spinners finding grip.
The “Zero-to-Three” Disaster: Pakistan lost their top three—Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Agha—for a combined total of just 10 runs. This was their lowest-ever aggregate against India in a World Cup.
Axar Castles Babar: With Babar Azam looking to rebuild, Axar Patel produced a classic left-arm spinner’s delivery that turned past the bat and rattled the middle stump. That moment officially ended any hopes of a Pakistani miracle.
What This Result Means for Group A - India Qualify for Super-8
This victory has solidified India’s status as Group A toppers and makes them the first team to qualify for the Super 8s. With a perfect record and a massive NRR, India is the team to beat. For Pakistan, this loss is devastating. Their tournament life now depends on other results going their way, and their inability to compete in high-pressure games has sparked intense criticism of their leadership and tactical approach.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group A Points Table
Group A Points Table
Match Highlights
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