India's Captain Suryakumar Yadav after the win:

"This win is for India, and we stayed true to the aggressive brand of cricket we’ve committed to playing. Ishan was outstanding—he continued the approach he has shown recently, thinking creatively when we needed someone to step up at 0 for 1. There was a brief dip in momentum, but that’s the nature of T20 cricket, and the way Tilak, Dube, and Rinku counter?attacked was brilliant. It’s tough to judge a par score when batting first, but once we crossed 175, we felt we were 15–20 ahead; anything around 155 would have been a tight contest. Hardik set the tone by taking the new ball, and Bumrah once again reminded everyone why he’s one of the best in the world. For now, we’ll enjoy the evening together as a group and think about the next steps once we reach Ahmedabad."

Ishan Kishan (Player of the Match)

"The pitch wasn’t the easiest to handle, so I backed my strengths and focused on watching the ball closely. My aim was to make the fielders work, use the big outfield, and keep finding gaps to keep the scoreboard moving. I’ve spent time improving my off?side game, which helps me dictate where bowlers need to bowl. On a ground like this, running hard for twos becomes a big part of the plan, especially when setting up a total. We felt 160–170 would be competitive, and in an India–Pakistan clash, delivering for the country always feels special. Bumrah and Hardik were outstanding—Jassi’s skills with both new ball and at the death were on display, and Hardik executed his plans perfectly in tough conditions."

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Varun Chakaravarthy runs through Pakistan’s lower order

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Varun Chakaravarthy produces a major over for India. He removes Faheem Ashraf with a mistimed pull, caught neatly by Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. On the very next ball, Abrar Ahmed falls LBW to Varun, trapped by a good-length delivery outside off stump. Usman Tariq survives a front-pad appeal on the following ball, but only three runs come from the over.

Pakistan 97/9 after 16 overs

Afridi hits a six but removes Usman Tariq to wrap up Pakistan’s innings

Hardik Pandya bowls the 18th over. Shaheen Afridi starts with a massive six, but on the final ball, Usman Tariq is dismissed, ending Pakistan’s innings.

Pakistan all out for 114

Rinku Singh comes to the crease and starts aggressively, hitting a four off the first ball of Shaheen Afridi’s over. He strikes again for another boundary on the third delivery, while the duo rotates strike with singles.

Pakistan 106/9 after 17 overs

Varun Chakaravarthy runs through Pakistan’s lower order

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Varun Chakaravarthy produces a major over for India. He removes Faheem Ashraf with a mistimed pull, caught neatly by Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. On the very next ball, Abrar Ahmed falls LBW to Varun, trapped by a good-length delivery outside off stump. Usman Tariq survives a front-pad appeal on the following ball, but only three runs come from the over.

Pakistan 97/9 after 16 overs

Tilak Varma bowls the 15th over, giving singles to Shahid Afridi and Faheem Ashraf. Pakistan inch forward but remain under pressure.

Pakistan 94/7 after 15 overs

Kuldeep Yadav bowls the 14th over. Shahid Afridi starts with a single, followed by a leg bye and a wide. The duo then takes two more singles to rotate strike.

Pakistan 89/7

Tilak Varma strikes on his first ball as Shadab Khan falls

Tilak Varma comes into the attack and removes Shadab Khan on his very first delivery. A good-length ball outside off stump beats the batter, and Shivam Dube takes a comfortable catch at long-off. Shaheen Afridi joins the crease and takes a single off the next ball. Faheem Ashraf then strikes a boundary and rotates strike with a single off the last delivery.

Pakistan 84/7 after 13 overs

Kuldeep Yadav strikes again as Mohammad Nawaz departs

Kuldeep Yadav bowls the 12th over. Shadab Khan starts with a single, and Mohammad Nawaz opens the account with a boundary through a sweep shot at deep square. However, on the fourth ball, a full toss on leg stump proves costly as Nawaz attempts a loft but sends it straight into the hands of Shivam Dube at deep mid-wicket. Faheem Ashraf walks in to join Shadab Khan.

Pakistan 78/6 after 12 overs

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Axar Patel strikes as Usman Khan departs

Axar Patel comes back into the attack, giving a couple of singles to the duo before dismissing Usman Khan on the fourth ball. The right-hander charges down the track, but Axar’s good-length delivery grips and turns, beating him and leaving Ishan Kishan to complete a neat stumping. Mohammad Nawaz walks in to join Shadab Khan.

Pakistan 73/5 after 11 overs

Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack

Kuldeep Yadav bowls to Usman Khan, who takes a single. Shadab Khan also rotates strike with a single, and the duo adds a couple more singles off the over. Pakistan still need 105 runs from 60 balls.

Pakistan 71/4 after 10 overs

Axar Patel bowls the ninth over. Usman Khan strikes two fours and rotates strike with a single off the final ball.

Pakistan 66/4 after 9 overs

Varun Chakaravarthy comes into the attack for the eighth over. Shadab Khan starts with three runs towards deep covers, followed by a single from Usman Khan. Shadab then hits a four off the third ball, and the duo rotates strike with a couple of singles.

Pakistan 57/4 after 8 overs

Axar Patel continues as Shadab and Usman add boundaries

Axar Patel bowls the seventh over. Shadab Khan takes a single off the first ball, and Usman Khan strikes a four in the third delivery before finishing the over with another boundary.

Pakistan 47/4 after 7 overs

Spin wizard Varun Chakaravarthy into the attack

Varun Chakaravarthy comes on to bowl for India. Usman Khan takes two runs followed by a single, while Shadab Khan adds a single of his own.

Pakistan 38/4 in 6th over

Spin wizard Varun Chakaravarthy into the attack

Varun Chakaravarthy comes on to bowl for India. Usman Khan takes two runs followed by a single, while Shadab Khan adds a single of his own.

Pakistan 38/4 in 6th over

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Axar Patel strikes as Babar Azam falls

Axar Patel comes into the attack for the fifth over. Usman Khan hits two boundaries off the spinner, but Babar Azam falls to a well-planned delivery. Axar bowls a good-length, undercut floater on off stump, and Babar Azam’s attempt to heave it across the line ends in his dismissal. Shadab Khan walks in at the crease.

Pakistan 34/4 after 5 overs

Jasprit Bumrah bowls the fourth over. Babar Azam and Usman Khan rotate strike with singles, and one delivery is called wide. Four runs come from the over.

Pakistan 25/3 after 4 overs

Usman Khan hits a six and a boundary as Pakistan recovers

Hardik Pandya bowls the third over. Babar Azam takes a single before Usman Khan replaces Salman Ali Agha at the crease. Usman Khan immediately hits a six to assert himself.

Pakistan 21/3 after 3 overs

Pakistan lose two quick wickets as Bumrah strikes

Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack, and Saim Ayub hits a six off the first ball but is immediately trapped LBW by Bumrah on the next delivery. Babar Azam walks in and takes two runs followed by a single. Salman Ali Agha joins the crease, strikes a four, but is soon caught at mid-on off Bumrah.

Pakistan 13/3 after 2 overs

Pakistan begins innings as Sahibzada Farhan departs cheaply in the 1st over

Hardik Pandya opens the bowling for India, while Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub start the innings for Pakistan. Farhan miscues a short-pitched delivery outside off stump and is caught at mid-on by Rinku Singh. Salman Ali Agha walks in next, and Pakistan fails to score from the remainder of the over.

Pakistan 0/1 after 1 over

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Shivam Dube departs after big hits, India finish at 175/7

Shaheen Afridi bowls, and Shivam Dube hits a four off the first ball and takes a single on the next. Rinku Singh comes to the crease and strikes a four and then a six. Dube departs after taking another single, and Axar Patel walks in but is dismissed on the last ball of the over.

India 175/7 after 20 overs

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav falls to Usman Tariq

Usman Tariq bowls, and Shivam Dube hits a four off the second ball. On the next delivery, Suryakumar Yadav plays an aggressive lofted drive but is caught by Saim Ayub. India score five runs in the over as Rinku Singh walks in.

India 159/5 after 19 overs

SKY hits a boundary and Dube smashes a six

Abrar Ahmed bowls to Suryakumar Yadav, who drives a four off the first ball. The duo rotate strike with singles before Shivam Dube launches a six to take India past 150. Dube takes a single off the last ball to finish the over.

India 154/4 after 18 overs

Usman Tariq bowls, and Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube take a couple of singles while India add four runs from the over.

India 140/4 after 17 overs

Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav rotate strike with singles, and Dube drives a four off the fifth ball.

India 136/4 after 16 overs

Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya fall in quick succession off Saim Ayub

Surya Kumar Yadav takes a single off the first ball. Tilak Varma comes on strike but is trapped LBW by Saim Ayub. Hardik Pandya walks in next and attempts an aggressive lofted drive but is caught by Babar Azam off the same bowler.

Shivam Dube comes in and survives a Pakistan appeal. Saim Ayub bowls a good-length delivery on off stump, beating Dube on the front foot. The keeper and Babar Azam appeal for a catch, but Snicko shows no edge and the umpire’s call stands. Dube takes a single off the last ball.

India 127/4 after 15 overs

Mohammad Nawaz bowls to Suryakumar Yadav, who takes two runs off the first ball. On the fourth delivery, Yadav drives beautifully past extra cover for a four. The duo rotate strike with singles in between to keep the scoreboard ticking.

India 125/2 after 14 overs

Suryakumar Yadav plays a front-foot cover drive for three runs towards deep extra cover. He and Tilak Varma rotate the strike with a few singles.
India 118/2 after 13 overs

Tilak launches a six off Mohammad Nawaz

Tilak Varma hits a six, and the duo rotate strike with a couple of singles. Suryakumar Yadav plays a sweep off the last ball, adding a leg bye as the fielding side appeals.

India 108/2 after 12 overs

11th over: Yadav hits boundary off Usman Tariq

Suryakumar Yadav drives a four, and India score six runs from the over.

India 98/2 after 11 overs

Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav each take singles while India add three more runs from the over.

India 92/2 after 10 overs

WICKET! Ishan Kishan departs

9th over – Saim Ayub strikes back: Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma take a single each before Kishan drives Ayub for a four. However, the Pakistan spinner gets his revenge on the very next ball.

Ishan Kishan is dismissed by Saim Ayub. Good length delivery on leg stump, Kishan misses it in flight as the ball grips and turns, with the extra bounce clipping the top of middle stump. Suryakumar Yadav walks in and gets off the mark with a single.

India 89/2 after 9 overs.

Shadab Khan to Ishan Kishan: Kishan launches the second ball for a maximum, follows it with a four off the third, then takes two runs each off the fourth and fifth deliveries before a single off the last ball.

India 82/1 after 8 overs.

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Kishan brings up blazing half-century as India accelerates

Ishan Kishan took the attack to Abrar Ahmed in the seventh over, smashing three boundaries to keep India on the charge. The left-hander brought up his half-century with a crisp four off the second ball, getting forward and thumping a full-length delivery over mid-off.

Kishan looks in complete control as India continue to build after the early loss of Abhishek Sharma.

India: 65/1 after 7 overs

Saim Ayub bowled the sixth over, and Ishan Kishan continued his aggressive play with a boundary. Tilak Varma also found the fence off the final ball as India ended the powerplay strongly.

India: 52/1 after 6 overs

Kishan goes big against Abrar Ahmed

Ishan Kishan started the fifth over in style, launching Abrar Ahmed for a six before adding a boundary off the fourth delivery. India continue to score freely in the powerplay.

India: 41/1 after 5 overs

Saim Ayub came on for the fourth over, and Ishan Kishan drove a classy boundary off the third ball before picking up a single off the final delivery. India continues to build without further loss.

India: 30/1 after 4 overs

Salman Ali Agha returned for the third over, and Ishan Kishan picked up a boundary to keep India ticking. Kishan and Tilak Varma rotated the strike with a couple of singles as India continued their steady start.

India: 25/1 after 3 overs

WICKET! Abhishek Sharma departs for a duck in the first over

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for India, while Salman Ali Agha took the new ball for Pakistan. Kishan got India off the mark with a single, but the over ended in dramatic fashion as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck.

India: 1/1 after 1 over

Kishan goes big as India score 15 in the second over

Shaheen Shah Afridi took the ball in the second over, and Ishan Kishan responded with an aggressive start, smashing a six off the first delivery and following it up with a boundary. Tilak Varma came in after Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal and ended the over with a four off the final ball.

India: 16/1 after 2 overs

WICKET! Abhishek Sharma departs for a duck in the first over

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for India, while Salman Ali Agha took the new ball for Pakistan. Kishan got India off the mark with a single, but the over ended in dramatic fashion as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck.

India: 1/1 after 1 over

Suryakumar Yadav (India Captain) at toss

"We definitely wanted to bat first; the results here have shown the value of putting runs on the board and defending them well. Since that approach has worked for us throughout the tournament, there was no reason to change anything tonight. India–Pakistan games are never just another match—they carry huge stakes—but staying present and trusting your skills is crucial. The message is simple: focus on what needs to be done, bring your best version to the field, and don’t drift away from your process. This sport humbles you quickly; on any given day anyone can step up, which is why form and mindset matter so much. We’ve made two changes today—Abhishek Sharma returns, and Kuldeep Yadav replaces Arshdeep Singh to freshen up our attack."

Playing XIs confirmed for India vs Pakistan

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

No handshake between captains at toss

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha did not exchange the customary handshake during the toss at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The two captains also avoided direct eye contact during the toss ceremony, with the “no-handshake policy” appearing to remain in effect during today’s T20 World Cup clash.

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India Playing XI Update

Abhishek Sharma returns, Kuldeep Yadav replaces Arshdeep Singh

India have made two changes for the high-voltage clash against Pakistan in Colombo. Abhishek Sharma has returned to the playing XI, while left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav comes in for Arshdeep Singh as India opt to strengthen their spin attack on a slow R Premadasa Stadium surface.

Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With rain in the forecast and conditions expected to assist seam and swing early on, Pakistan captain has opted to put India in to bat.

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Arshdeep Singh set to be left out as India opts for extra spinner

India are likely to leave out Arshdeep Singh for today’s clash against Pakistan as part of a tactical decision rather than due to any injury concerns. The team management is reportedly considering strengthening their spin attack to exploit the slow, spin-friendly conditions at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is expected to come into the playing XI as a third specialist spinner. The surface at Pitch No. 4, a black soil wicket, is known to assist slower bowlers, which could influence India’s selection strategy.

Kuldeep has enjoyed success against Pakistan’s middle order in the past, including a four-wicket haul at this venue during the Asia Cup. With Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube providing pace options, India appear comfortable bolstering their spin resources for the high-stakes encounter.

Crowd building up for India vs Pakistan blockbuster in Colombo

The R Premadasa Stadium is beginning to fill up ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Fans from both countries, along with neutrals, have gathered in large numbers, adding to the buzz around the high-stakes Group A encounter.

India and Pakistan have both won their first two matches of the tournament, and the atmosphere in Colombo reflects the significance of the contest in the race for Super 8 qualification.