IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026, Colombo, Sri Lanka — In a bright and noisy India versus Pakistan game at theT20 World Cup 2026,Team India delivered a dominant performance once again and beat Pakistan by61 runs to enter theSuper 8s stage. The drama of the game was not only on the field as Pakistani fan favouriteMohsin Naqvi left the stadium early, and the drama went beyond the boundary ropes.
Author : Akshita Jain | EQmint | Sports news
Once again, the most competitive rivalry in cricket took centre stage at R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. It was a highly anticipated battle, and the billions who watched the live stream from all parts of the world were not disappointed with the thrilling India-Pakistan rivalry.
India Sets a Strong Total
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, India posted a competitive total of 175/7 in their 20 overs.
The performance of Ishan Kishan (77 ODI, 40 balls) was an absolute powerhouse as he started through some of the toughest boundaries, and his great aggressive play set the table for a very competitive score.
The cricketing shots of the two sides can be analysed through the eyes of this one player. His innings was marked by a combination of powerful fours and sixes, and the rapid pace at which he scored runs forced Pakistan to make early changes in their bowling strategy.
His innings reminded many of previous top cricketing performances — but was it India’s highest scoring T20I half-century yet? That is a question that will certainly divide the fans into two camps.
Apart from Ishan Kishan, other players scored fine runs while the team was losing a few wickets quickly. Rinku\’s brief but solid innings in the last overs helped the team to cross a score that would truly haunt the Pakistan batting.
India Bowling Shine As Pakistan Chase
Chasing 176 to keep their dreams of progressing in the tournament alive, Pakistan’s batting suffered a major setback right from the very start of the innings.
India’s bowlers were right on target from the word go, and dismantling the opponents’ top order became quite an easy task for them. The Pakistan team never seemed to get comfortable against the Indian bowlers, who put relentless pressure on them and ultimately produced the result of bowling them out for only 114 runs in 18 overs.
Both the pace bowlers and the spinners came up with their best spells. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya together kept the pressure on the Pakistan batsmen with their incisive bowling. The Pakistan team never got back on its feet after the initial troubles, and the different varieties introduced by the Indian attack confused their batsmen, which ultimately resulted in a collapse.
🇮🇳 India Enters Super 8s — A Statement Win
India triumphed over their fierce rivals by a massive 61 runs, which not only earned them the bragging rights over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup but also secured their place in the Super 8s without any worries. This will mark a very important phase for India’s campaign, given that their performance here is telling of them as being amongst the favourites for the title.
This time around, head-to-head record now shows India standing at the forefront, having improved their T20 World Cup tally against Pakistan, and extending their winning streak in the most crunch encounters.
Off-Field Drama: Mohsin Naqvi’s Early Exit
However, this match was not totally about the events that transpired on the cricket field. Pakistan cricket figure Mohsin Naqvi caused quite a stir when he was seen leaving the stadium early.
Speculations started flying, especially on social media, on whether this was his act against the way Pakistan played the game or simply personal reasons, as nothing more is known about the situation.
While there is speculation on social platforms as to whether Naqvi’s departure was a metaphor for the Pakistani team’s internal problems, no definitive answers are available at this time.
Match Impact & What Next
India is moving forward with high confidence after this convincing win, and so, they come into the Super 8 stage as favourites with momentum on their side. Their well-balanced performance with both bat and ball shows that the team is in good form, especially at this crucial stage of the T20 World Cup 2026.
On the other hand, the defeat throws up questions about Pakistan’s batting depth and their method of handling pressure, especially when they face the big teams. Their Super 8 qualification chances are definitely slim, and therefore, they will have to turn their luck around and win against the rest of the group fixtures if they wish to continue in the tournament.
Final Score Summary
- India: 175/7 (20 overs)
- Pakistan: 114 all out (18 overs)
- Result: India won by 61 runs — India advances to Super 8s
This thrilling contest of cricket will be a source of joyous memories for the fans of both countries for a very long time — a vintage episode in the IND vs PAK T20 World Cup rivalry that has been passing through generations.
Keep up with the latest T20 World Cup 2026 LIVE updates, match highlights, and expert analysis as the tournament progresses.
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Resource Link : TOI
