By Sports Reporter
Defending champions India delivered a commanding performance to see off arch-rivals Pakistan by 61 runs in a high-stakes Group A clash in Colombo, booking their place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, India posted a formidable 175 for 7 after a blistering knock of 77 from Ishan Kishan at the top of the order. The aggressive left-hander set the tone early, dismantling Pakistan’s bowling attack with fluent stroke play and calculated risks during the powerplay.
In reply, Pakistan struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, as India’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Wickets fell at regular intervals, extinguishing any hopes of a late fightback.
The defeat further deepened Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup record against India. India have now won eight of the nine encounters between the two sides at T20 World Cups, in addition to maintaining a perfect record in their eight ODI World Cup meetings.
Given the political tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, India and Pakistan meet only in multinational tournaments at neutral venues under a long-standing agreement. It has been more than 18 years since the two sides last played a Test match against each other, and 13 years since either nation toured the other for a bilateral series.
With this victory, India not only reinforced their dominance in global tournaments but also underlined their status as serious contenders to retain the T20 crown.
