Defending champions India convincingly defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in a highly anticipated Group A clash at the Twenty20 World Cup, securing their spot in the Super Eight stage. The much-anticipated rivalry did not live up to expectations as India, with a dominant track record of 8-1 against their arch-rivals in T20 World Cup encounters, continued their unbeaten streak with a commanding performance.
Opener Ishan Kishan’s rapid 77 runs propelled India to a formidable total of 175-7 at the R Premadasa Stadium, facing Pakistan’s spin-heavy bowling attack. India then restricted Pakistan to 114 all out in 18 overs, claiming their third consecutive victory in the tournament.
After being named the player of the match, Kishan emphasized the significance of the India-Pakistan clash, stating, “India v Pakistan is a special game for us and our country. It is a very important game.” He credited the team’s confidence to their ability to play well against Pakistan’s spinners.
Prior to the match, Pakistan initially considered boycotting in support of Bangladesh’s safety concerns, but later decided to play. Despite the tension, the captains did not shake hands at the toss. India welcomed back Abhishek Sharma, who missed the first two matches due to illness, but he fell early to Salman’s unexpected bowling.
India’s innings saw Kishan’s explosive batting leading the charge, with a quick fifty in just 27 balls. Despite some setbacks, India managed to post a challenging total, which Pakistan struggled to chase down. Pakistan’s decision to field six spinners did not yield the desired results as they faltered early in their innings.
India’s bowlers, notably Pandya and Bumrah, stifled Pakistan’s batting lineup, with Usman Khan’s resistance proving insufficient. Pakistan captain Salman acknowledged the spinners’ off-day, mentioning, “Our spinners had an off day today. We always believe in them because they have done well in the last six months. In the first innings, it was tacky and the ball was gripping but the execution was missing.”