India Crush Pakistan by 61 Runs to Storm into Super 8

Colombo : India underlined their supremacy over Pakistan in T20 World Cups with a commanding 61-run victory, becoming the first team to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In a match defined by dominance across all departments, India outplayed Pakistan, extending their head-to-head advantage in the tournament to 8–1.

India posted a record 175/7 — the highest total in an India–Pakistan T20 World Cup clash — before bowling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs to seal a comprehensive win.

After losing Abhishek Sharma in the first over, India found momentum through a sensational knock from Ishan Kishan, who hammered 77 off just 40 balls. His 27-ball half-century lifted the run rate close to 10 an over and put Pakistan on the defensive early. Kishan targeted Pakistan’s frontline bowlers, striking boundaries off Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and others.

Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma then steadied the innings with a fluent partnership, though a brief collapse saw Tilak and Hardik Pandya dismissed off consecutive deliveries. Despite the setbacks, late contributions from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh ensured India crossed the 170-run mark. Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq impressed with figures of 4/24, but fielding lapses proved costly.

In reply, Pakistan’s chase unravelled almost immediately. Hardik Pandya dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in the opening over, while Jasprit Bumrah followed with a perfect yorker to remove Saim Ayub. Pakistan slumped to 13/3 and never recovered from the early damage.

Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy tightened the screws through the middle overs, each picking up two wickets. Usman Khan threatened briefly but fell six runs short of a half-century, while Shadab Khan’s resistance was not enough to halt the slide. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114, completing a one-sided contest. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was seen leaving the Premadasa Stadium before the innings concluded.

Playing XIs

India:

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan:

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

The victory once again showcased India’s composure and tactical clarity in marquee encounters, while Pakistan struggled to withstand sustained pressure. With a dominant all-round performance, India not only secured early qualification but also reaffirmed their control over one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries on the T20 World Cup stage.