India crush Pakistan by 61 runs to reach T20 World Cup Super Eights

The contest at R Premadasa Stadium, played on a slow, spin-friendly pitch, had been in doubt until days ago after Pakistan threatened to boycott. Once underway, India were inserted by Pakistan, who surprisingly opened with offspinner Salman Agha against left-handers Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. The tactic backfired as Sharma fell for a duck in the first over, while Kishan immediately seized control, dispatching the new ball into gaps and over the ropes with ease.

Kishan's assault turned a challenging wicket into a platform above par, taking India to 88-2 in just 8.4 overs. He hit three sixes and ten fours, racing to a fifty in 27 balls, sweeping Abrar Ahmed for a six and driving Shadab Khan over extra-cover. His dominance allowed India to reach 175-7 despite the tacky surface, with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma adding 38 off 33 balls to consolidate after Kishan's departure.

Pakistan's reply began disastrously, with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah exploiting the pressure of early wickets. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck in Pandya's first over, while Bumrah removed Saim Ayub and Salman Agha in his opening spell. Axar Patel trapped Babar Azam in the fifth over, leaving Pakistan reeling at 34-4.

Usman Khan offered some resistance, striking 44 off 34 balls with a six and six fours, and briefly kept Pakistan's hopes alive. But Saim Ayub's spin in the 15th over, which took Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and nearly Shivam Dube in succession, halted any momentum. Afridi, Abrar, and Shadab were unable to stem the flow in the final overs, conceding 86 runs in six overs as India posted a competitive total.

India's bowlers continued their clinical work, never allowing Pakistan to build partnerships. The match ended with Pandya cleaning up Usman Tariq for a duck in the 18th over, capping India's largest T20I win over Pakistan.

Kishan reflected on his innings: "The pitch was slow, but I felt I could play my natural game. I tried to stay ahead of the spinners and back myself at the crease." Suryakumar Yadav added, "Ishan set the tone. Once he was going, we just had to back our skills and finish the job."

With three wins from as many Group A games, India will face the Netherlands in their final round-one fixture, while Pakistan must defeat Namibia to advance. The result underscores India's continued supremacy over Pakistan in World Cups, where they have now won 16 of 17 encounters across formats.