New Delhi: India beat Pakistan by 61 runs in a high-stakes clash that had the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo crackling with tension Sunday.
Defending 175, India bowled Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs after dominating from the onset and posting what proved a competitive total on a tricky pitch during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group-stage match.
Pakistan struggled with a low run rate and quickly slipped onto the backfoot as wickets kept tumbling. In the 15th over, Varun Chakaravarthy, one delivery short of a hat-trick, ripped through the lower order with two strikes. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq briefly tried to hold the fort, but Hardik Pandya sealed the result by bowling out Tariq, finishing the game.
While Ishan Kishan did the heavy-lifting with 77 runs off 40 balls, Pakistan could not quite hit the same mark with any of the batters.
With this win, India also clinched its spot in the Super 8 in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan won the toss and Captain Salman Agha had no hesitation in choosing to bowl, setting the tone for a night already heavy with subtext.
In continuation of the practice–or lack of one–that began last year after the terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake at the toss. Last year, team India refused to take the trophy presented by Pak Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and it did not shake hands with Pakistani players after the match.
For the group stage match, Pakistan stuck with an unchanged XI, backing continuity. But India rolled the dice. The skipper made two sharp calls: Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav came in for Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh, tweaks made in what was decidedly a high-voltage contest.
The stadium was brimming with energy long before the first ball. The fixture served as a warmup for the emotional and competitive battles still to come.
The backdrop made the contest more charged. The Pakistan government had earlier directed its team to boycott the India match in the tournament that began on 7 February, reigniting the familiar debate over sport and geopolitics that has shadowed the rivalry for decades. Some fans hailed the boycott while others argued the playground should remain untouched by politics.
But twists and turns led to this night. Talks involving an ICC delegation and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi broke the deadlock, resulting in the country calling off its planned boycott. The reversal triggered a storm of online reaction.
And so, after weeks of brinkmanship, the spotlight returned where it always does: the pitch.
Pakistan will play Namibia next and India will take on the Netherlands on 18 February.
Also read: Breaking from Asia Cup pattern, handshakes & high-fives at India-Pakistan hockey match in Malaysia