India’s march in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 continued in dominant fashion on Sunday night in Colombo. With a commanding 61-run win over arch-rivals Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium, the Indian men’s cricket team booked their place in the Super 8 stage.
Batting first in the Group A clash, India posted 175, powered by a dazzling knock from Ishan Kishan. The left-hander smashed 77 off 44 balls, playing with confidence and flair. Captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with 32 off 29 balls, while Shivam Dube added a valuable 27 to strengthen the total.
Pakistan struggled in reply and were bowled out for just 114. Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets each to keep constant pressure on the opposition.
After the match, Ishan Kishan’s childhood coach Uttam Mazumdar expressed pride in the team’s performance. He dedicated the victory to Indian soldiers and congratulated the entire squad for what he described as a spectacular effort. Uttam Mazumdar also shared his belief that India can go all the way and bring the trophy home.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub impressed with the ball, taking 3 for 25. Captain Salman Ali Agha and Usman Tariq claimed one wicket each. With the bat, Usman Khan top-scored with 44 off 34 balls, while Shaheen Shah Afridi remained unbeaten on 23. Still, the result never looked in doubt.
This was India’s third straight win of the tournament, after victories over the USA and Namibia. As defending champions and co-hosts, they now move ahead with growing confidence and big ambitions.
