India achieved a solid victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.
After losing the toss, India batted first. Ishan Kishan had a remarkable innings, scoring 77 runs off 40 balls, which included 10 fours and three sixes. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube also contributed significantly, helping India reach a total of 175/6 in their 20 overs.
In response, Pakistan struggled early, losing four wickets during the powerplay and couldn’t recover from the setbacks. They were eventually bowled out for 114 runs in 18 overs, with four Indian bowlers taking two wickets each.
Sunil Gavaskar compared India’s performance to a washing machine, emphasizing their dominance over Pakistan in front of a full crowd in Colombo.
“It is a massive win. Pakistan being out for a couple of overs left shows the complete dominance the Indian team held. It was a thorough defeat. The Indian team put Pakistan in a washing machine,” he stated in an interview with Sports Today.
Gavaskar noted that Indian players possess superior skills compared to their Pakistani rivals. He also pointed out that the Indian team copes better with pressure.
“While skill levels may occasionally be the same, generally, man for man, the Indian team excels in skills. This gives them greater confidence to handle any challenges. Even after Abhishek got out early, Ishan Kishan’s aggressive play and the smart tactics from Tilak and Surya stood out,” he added.
“You don’t want additional pressure” – Sunil Gavaskar on Pakistan after defeat to India
Gavaskar suggested that the Pakistani players should have been allowed to prepare for the match independently instead of receiving a pep talk from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, which he believed added unnecessary pressure.
“As a team, you want to be left to your own thoughts and mental preparation. Your captain, coach, and support staff have already shared their expectations. You should have the space to plan your game. You don’t want any additional pressure,” he explained.
