India Storm into Super Eight with 61-Run Rout of Pakistan
COLOMBO: Ishan Kishan blended raw power with exquisite timing in a breathtaking half-century before Jasprit Bumrah ripped through Pakistan’s top order with a masterclass in fast bowling, as India clinched a commanding 61-run victory to seal their Super Eight berth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.
On a tacky R. Premadasa surface, Kishan’s explosive 77 off just 40 deliveries proved invaluable, propelling India to a competitive 175 for seven after being put in to bat. Considering the sluggish nature of the pitch, it ranked among the most high-quality T20I knocks by an Indian batter in recent memory.
Pakistan, chasing 176, required a brisk Powerplay to stay in contention. Instead, Bumrah (2/17) and Hardik Pandya (2/16) dismantled the top order with clinical precision, bundling them out for 114 and turning the much-anticipated contest into a one-sided affair. India now lead Pakistan 8-1 in T20 World Cup encounters.
Bumrah Sets the Tone
Pandya ignited the collapse in the opening over, extracting steep bounce to dismiss Sahibzada Farhan, who miscued a pull to Rinku Singh. Then entered Bumrah.
The premier Indian pacer wasted no time. Saim Ayub was trapped in front by a searing inswinging yorker, while Salman Ali Agha spooned a back-of-length delivery to mid-wicket. Pakistan were reeling at 13 for three — a slide that soon worsened to 34 for four when Babar Azam’s ill-judged slog sweep off Axar Patel resulted in his stumps being rearranged.
Pakistan’s Powerplay yielded just 38 for four, compared to India’s 52 for one — a disparity that defined the contest.
Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Tilak Varma and Varun Chakravarthy tightened the screws through the middle overs, ensuring there was no route back for Pakistan. The chase gradually dissolved under relentless pressure.
Kishan’s Commanding Knock
Earlier, Kishan single-handedly seized control of proceedings. After Abhishek Sharma fell early to Agha’s off-spin, the left-hander launched a calculated assault.
He began with a disdainful pull off Shaheen Shah Afridi before systematically dismantling Pakistan’s spin attack. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan were dispatched to the stands, while Ayub and Agha were pierced through gaps with precision.
His fifty came off just 27 balls — an extraordinary effort on a slow surface. An 87-run stand with Tilak Varma (11) anchored India’s innings, though Kishan was the clear aggressor.
Attempting to accelerate further, Kishan was eventually bowled attempting to carve Ayub over mid-wicket, triggering a brief Pakistan resurgence.
Ayub struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Tilak (25) and Pandya (0), reducing India from 126 for two to 126 for four in the 15th over.
Late Surge Lifts India
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 28) and Shivam Dube (27 off 17) ensured India crossed the 150-mark with a steady partnership. Despite the slow conditions, they found timely boundaries.
Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq claimed Suryakumar in the 19th over, but a 15-run final over off Afridi — courtesy of Dube and Rinku Singh — propelled India to 175.
That proved far beyond Pakistan’s reach.
Jammu Erupts in Celebration
JAMMU: The emphatic victory sparked jubilant scenes across Jammu as fans poured onto the streets to celebrate India’s triumph over Pakistan.
Large crowds gathered at Bharat Mata Chowk and other prominent locations, waving the tricolour and raising patriotic slogans. Fireworks lit up the night sky as the city turned into a sea of celebration following the high-voltage encounter.
