Pakistan’s Babar Azam is bowled out by India’s Axar Patel throughout ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match in R. Premadasa Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka – February 15, 2026. — Reuters
Pakistan on Sunday dropped to 3rd place in Group A of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup after struggling a humiliating defeat to arch-rivals India on the R Premadasa Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
Defending champions India registered a commanding 61-run victory to safe a spot within the Tremendous Eight stage.
Put into bat first, the holders registered a formidable complete of 175/7 of their 20 overs, courtesy of opener Ishan Kishan’s blistering half-century.
Kishan led India’s restoration after dropping his opening associate Abhishek Sharma (zero) within the first over with a blazing 77 off 40 deliveries, studded with 10 fours and three sixes.
His efforts have been backed by captain Suryakumar Yadav, who made an anchoring 32 off 29 deliveries with the assistance of three fours, whereas Tilak Varma (25) and Shivam Dube (27) made notable contributions.
Saim Ayub was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking three wickets for simply 25 runs in his 4 overs, whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq and captain Salman Ali Agha may make one scalp apiece.
Set to chase a frightening 176-run goal, Pakistan’s batting unit faltered towards India’s disciplined bowling assault and will accumulate 114 earlier than getting bowled out in 18 overs.
Wicketkeeper batter Usman Khan remained the top-scorer for the Inexperienced Shirts with a valiant 44 off 34 deliveries whereas Faheem Ashraf (10) and Shaheen (23 not out) have been the others to amass double figures.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy led the best way with two wickets every, whereas Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma chipped in with one scalp apiece.
The 61-run victory, which marked India’s third in as many video games, consolidated their high spot in Group A standings and propelled them into the Tremendous Eights with a match to spare, scheduled to be performed towards the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Then again, the defeat marked Pakistan’s first within the T20 World Cup 2026 and dented their internet run price, leading to them being changed by america of America (USA), who even have 4 factors however have performed all of their group-stage matches.
The 2009 champions subsequent face Namibia of their final group-stage fixture on Wednesday, which is now a must-win sport for them to qualify for the Tremendous Eights, whereas a defeat would propel the USA into the subsequent stage.
For the unversed, Namibia, positioned on the backside of Group A standings with zero factors after three matches, have been knocked out of the Tremendous Eights race following their gruelling defeat by the hands of the USA earlier at the moment.
