At the R. Premadasa Stadium, Ishan Kishan showcased outstanding batting against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15, 2026. With confidence, he faced a challenging bowling lineup, lifting the spirits of the team and turning the game in India’s favor despite an early loss.
Ishan Kishan’s 77 vs Pakistan places him among Cricket greats
Kishan scored an impressive 77 off 40 balls, making him the fourth Indian player to achieve a half-century against Pakistan in T20 World Cup history. He joins the ranks of Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Robin Uthappa. His performance was critical in overcoming the spin challenges posed by Usman Tariq and Salman Agha, who had dismissed Abhishek Sharma for no runs. Kishan’s innings included 10 fours and 3 sixes, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to reach this milestone in the tournament.
| Batter | Score | Venue/Year | Match Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Uthappa | 50 (39) | Durban, 2007 | Group Stage |
| Gautam Gambhir | 75 (54) | Johannesburg, 2007 | Final |
| Virat Kohli | 78 (61)* | Colombo, 2012 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 55 (37)* | Kolkata, 2016 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 57 (49) | Dubai, 2021 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 82 (53)* | Melbourne, 2022 | Group Stage |
| Ishan Kishan | 77 (40) | Colombo, 2026 | Group Stage |
Saim Ayub disrupts India’s momentum in T20 World Cup 2026
The match began with a tense atmosphere at the toss, but quickly turned in India’s favor thanks to Kishan’s powerful performance. However, the game shifted dramatically when Saim Ayub helped Pakistan regain control. He dismissed Kishan in the 9th over and later took out Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) in a crucial sequence, leaving India at 126/4. Kishan has been a standout performer for India in this campaign, adding to his earlier 61 runs against Namibia. Now, the responsibility lies with captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to stabilize the innings in the final overs.
