At the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, India posted 175/7 in 20 overs after Pakistan won the toss and elected to field in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A meeting. Ishan Kishan’s blistering 77 off 40 provided the backbone of India’s total, while Saim Ayub’s 3/25 was Pakistan’s best return with the ball.
The contest swung late: Shaheen Afridi was handed the 20th over but conceded 20 runs as Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh launched a frantic finish. Pakistan must now chase 176 to win.
Read More: PSL Schedule 2026 — Quick Overview
Key details
Toss, captains and playing XIs
- Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.
- India XI: Abhishek Sharma; Ishan Kishan (wk); Suryakumar Yadav (c); Tilak Varma; Hardik Pandya; Shivam Dube; Rinku Singh; Axar Patel; Jasprit Bumrah; Kuldeep Yadav; Varun Chakravarthy.
- Pakistan XI: Saim Ayub; Sahibzada Farhan; Salman Agha (c); Babar Azam; Usman Khan (wk); Faheem Ashraf; Shadab Khan; Mohammad Nawaz; Shaheen Afridi; Usman Tariq; Abrar Ahmed.
- Some reports said the captains did not shake hands at the toss, reflecting the tension around the fixture.
India innings — how the 175/7 was built
- Early blow: Pakistan skipper Salman Agha opened the bowling and removed Abhishek Sharma for a duck in the first over.
- Ishan Kishan counter-attacked, scoring 77 off 40 balls and helping India reach 52/1 in the Powerplay.
- Middle overs: The pitch offered turn and grip; Saim Ayub’s introduction proved decisive as he dismissed Kishan, Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) in a spell that slowed India’s momentum.
- Late drama: Suryakumar Yadav made 32. India were 159/5 entering the final over; Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh combined to take 20 off Shaheen Afridi’s 20th over, although the last two deliveries saw Dube run out and Axar Patel caught.
- Final score: India 175/7 (20 overs). Pakistan need 176 runs to win.
Bowling and individual highlights
- Top batter: Ishan Kishan — 77 (40).
- Best bowler (Pakistan): Saim Ayub — 3/25 (4 overs).
- Notable wickets: Kishan, Tilak Varma (25), Hardik Pandya (0), Suryakumar Yadav (32).
- Final over: 20 runs conceded off Shaheen Afridi.
How to watch
- For viewers in Pakistan: live TV coverage on PTV and PTV Sports.
- Online streaming options include Tamasha, Myco, and Tapmad (platform links and apps available for iOS/Android and desktop).
- The ProPakistani guide with streaming details was published Feb 15, 2026.
This match is another high-stakes chapter in the storied India–Pakistan rivalry at the ICC T20 World Cup. Both teams had won their first two Group A fixtures going into this game, raising the stakes for qualification and momentum. The R. Premadasa surface showed assistance for spinners in the middle overs, inviting tactical moves from both captains.
The chase will hinge on Pakistan’s ability to handle India’s spin options—Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy are waiting to exploit the turn. Pakistan’s top order, led by Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, must build a solid platform; given Saim Ayub’s earlier success with the ball, his form will be one storyline to follow. Expect a tactical battle between Pakistan’s power-hitters and India’s spinners as both sides vie for control in the Super 8 race.
