SRINAGAR: India cricket team defeated Pakistan cricket team by 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium to secure a place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The loss dropped Pakistan to third place in Group A, behind the USA, on net run rate.
Chasing 176, Pakistan collapsed to 34/4 early, with Hardik Pandya dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in the first over, followed by Jasprit Bumrah removing Saim Ayub (6) and Salman Ali Agha (4). Usman Khan top-scored with 44, while Shaheen Shah Afridi remained unbeaten on 23 and Shadab Khan scored 14.
Earlier, Saim Ayub had taken three wickets for Pakistan, including key dismissals of Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) in consecutive deliveries, but Ishan Kishan had countered with a 40-ball 77 to propel India to 175/7. Captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed a measured 32, while Usman Tariq finished with one wicket.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and elected to field. Both sides entered the match unbeaten, with India having defeated the USA and Namibia, and Pakistan overcoming the Netherlands and the USA in earlier matches.
The victory sets India up strongly for the Super 8 stage, while Pakistan will need a strong net run rate performance to advance.
