COLOMBO: Despite a change in venue and a new captain at the helm, Pakistan’s woes against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continued on Sunday as they slumped to a demoralising 61-run defeat in the 2026 edition in Colombo.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha went against the trend at the R Premadasa Stadium in the tournament when he decided to field first. He paid a heavy price when Ishan Kishan launched a ruthless attack to hit a 40-ball 77, his innings proving the cornerstone of India’s 175 for seven in 20 overs.

In their run-chase, Pakistan batters collapsed like a house of cards in the PowerPlay, slipping to 38 for four and then 94 for seven after 15 overs before being dismissed for 114 in 18 overs.

By choosing to field first, Salman ignored the fact that teams batting first in the previous three matches at this venue in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 had emerged winners. Sri Lanka defeated Ireland by 20 runs, Australia beat Ireland by 67 runs and Zimbabwe beat Australia by 23 runs. With Mike Hesson as team coach and regarded as a firm believer in data, it was a poor judgment call.

Salman then made another tactical error when threw the ball to Shaheen Shah Afridi for the 20th over despite having overs of himself, Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan still in hand. Any of those options had made better sense after the spin trio of Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq had collectively conceded 77 runs in their 12 overs.

Shaheen, who went for 15 in his first over, conceded 16 in his second and final over of the innings, tilting the balance India’s way — a shift that was subsequently reflected in Pakistan’s run-chase.

Sahibzada Farhan, after playing three dot balls, played a premeditated shot to be caught at mid-off; Saim Ayub was pinned in front of the wickets a ball after hitting a streaking six; Salman Ali Agha aimlessly holed out to mid-on; and Babar Azam’s vulnerability against left-arm spinners was on show again when he was bowled by Axar Patel.

At 34 for four, the writing was very much on the wall for Pakistan, and India eventually won by 61 runs, with none of their previous eight wins over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup being so convincing, comfortable and one-sided.

Hardik Pandya (two for 16), Jasprit Bumrah (two for 17), Varun Chakravarthy (two for 17) and Axar Patel (two for 29) shared wickets on a surface on which Shaheen Shah Afridi went for 31 runs in two overs, Abrar Ahmed conceded 38 runs off his three overs and Shadab Khan’s only over cost him 17 runs.

The defeat has put enormous pressure on Pakistan, who now have to beat Namibia on 18 February to keep their Super Eight stage chances alive. A failure against Namibia will put the USA in the next stage, just like in 2024.

Ishan Kishan, later adjudged player of the match, was in breathtaking form, belting 10 fours and three sixes (the entire Pakistan side struck 13 fours and three sixes) before being castled by Saim Ayub, who finished with three for 25.

After Kishan departed at 88 for two in 8.4 overs, Pakistan spinners bowled extremely well to restrict India to 71 runs in the next 62 deliveries before Shaheen’s final over swung the game decisively back in favour of the defending champions.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 32 off 29, Shivam Dube chipped in with 27 off 17 and Tilak Varma contributed 25 off 24.

This was India’s eighth win in nine matches against Pakistan in T20 World Cups. India won twice in the 2007 event in Durban and Johannesburg, then won by eight wickets in Colombo in 2012, by seven wickets in Mirpur in 2014, by six wickets in Kolkata in 2016, by four wickets in Melbourne in 2022 and by six runs in New York in 2024. The only time Pakistan have won was in Dubai in 2021 when they won by 10 wickets.

Overall, India enjoys a 14–3 head-to-head record.

Group A – India beat Pakistan by 61 runs

India 175-7, 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32, Shivam Dube27, Tilak Varma 25; Saim Ayub 3-25)

Pakistan 114 all-out, 18 overs (Usman Khan 44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 23 not out, Shadab Khan 14; Hardik Pandya 2-16, Jasprit Bumrah 2-17, Varun Chakravarthy 2-17, Axar Patel 2-29)

Player of the match – Ishan Kishan