Overview:
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114, giving India a commanding 61-run victory. This win further solidified India’s supremacy in the rivalry, extending their head-to-head lead to a dominant 8-1.
After India’s commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar praised India for their title defense ambitions. He slammed Pakistan’s surrender. With this emphatic win, India now lead the T20 World Cup rivalry 8-1.
“We were completely out of the game. Shaheen was bowling at just 125 kmph, which is not what modern cricket demands. These are not the players who can handle pressure. For the past 15-20 years, there has been no investment. The harsh reality is that while we once went toe-to-toe with India on the field, today we can’t even fathom beating them,” Shoaib Akhtar said on ABP News.
“One person who has no idea about cricket has become the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (Mohsin Naqvi). What can you expect? How will the team function? You’ve turned a player (Babar Azam) into a superstar, but he can’t win you a match. The biggest mistake is giving important roles to incompetent people,” he added.
Akhtar went on to describe Naqvi as incompetent and jaahil, stating that he is unfit to hold the position of chairman of the PCB.
From the moment the game began, India took control. Ishan Kishan set the pace with an explosive 77 off 40 balls, leading India to a formidable 175. Pakistan’s chase faltered, as India’s bowlers applied consistent pressure. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel took two wickets each.
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 114, giving India a commanding 61-run victory. This win further solidified India’s supremacy in the rivalry, extending their head-to-head lead to a dominant 8-1. It also highlighted Pakistan’s continued struggle against India’s spin attack in Colombo, as the match turned one-sided before the final overs.