In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India claimed a remarkable victory over Pakistan, winning by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Batting first, the ‘Men in Blue’ amassed 175 runs while losing seven wickets across their 20 overs. In response, the ‘Green Shirts’ struggled and were bowled out for just 114 runs in 18 overs.
Following the match, former Pakistan cricketer Waqar Younis emphasized that Pakistan’s defeat was effectively sealed during India’s innings. He noted that the target of 175 runs proved too challenging for Pakistan’s batting lineup.
“Pakistan lost the game in the first innings. Once India reached 175, it was out of Pakistan’s reach. The ball was spinning, and Suryakumar Yadav was strategic with his bowling changes,” Younis remarked.
He acknowledged the ongoing issues with Pakistan’s batting, suggesting that had India scored only 140 or 150 runs, the outcome might have been different.
Younis praised the Indian players for their performances but expressed frustration with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to introduce Usman Tariq too late in the match.
“Suryakumar handed the new ball to Hardik Pandya early on, and Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional, targeting the stumps and swinging the ball. This made it exceedingly difficult for Pakistan. Salman Ali Agha allowed that to happen by not bringing in Usman Tariq sooner,” he explained.
“Tariq performed well, taking a wicket and conceding just 24 runs, but he was held back for too long. By the time he got into the game, Ishan Kishan had already inflicted significant damage. That was crucial in determining the match’s outcome,” the 54-year-old elaborated.
This victory propelled the ‘Men in Blue’ into the ‘Super 8’ stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. Currently, they sit at the top of Group A, having won all three of their matches, boasting a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and a total of six points.
Looking ahead, the Suryakumar Yadav-led team is set to face the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.