India dominated the early stages of their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday. Ishan Kishan blitzed 77 runs off just 40 balls, giving India a flying start despite losing his opening partner Abhishek Sharma for a duck.
Kishan dominated the strike, hitting three sixes and ten fours, bringing up his fifty off just 27 balls. His aggressive innings helped India reach 88-2 after 8.4 overs, putting Pakistan under early pressure.
After Kishan’s dismissal, Pakistan’s bowlers fought back to dominate the middle overs. Spinner Saim Ayub emerged as the standout performer, taking three wickets for 25 runs. Usman Tariq, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Afridi picked up one wicket each, while one Indian batter was run out.
India’s Suryakumar Yadav made 32 off 29 balls before falling to Usman Tariq, and Shivam Dube contributed 27 runs. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling restricted India to 175-7 in 20 overs, showing that they could dominate the latter part of the innings despite Kishan’s brilliance.
The match marked another chapter in the intense India-Pakistan rivalry. Historically, India have dominated T20 encounters between the sides, winning seven of eight World Cup meetings. Both teams entered the contest unbeaten in the group stage, with Pakistan winning against the Netherlands and USA, and India defeating the USA and Namibia.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha noted that the pitch could assist bowlers, calling it “a bit tacky” but said the team was relaxed and focused. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said batting first was preferable and emphasized the high stakes of the match.
In other news read more about: India Set 176-Run Target for Pakistan in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Clash
The winner of this game will secure a berth in the next Super Eights round. With Pakistan looking to dominate in the chase and India relying on their strong batting lineup, fans can expect a thrilling contest between the two cricketing giants.
