In a thrilling encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Team India scripted history against arch-rivals Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. On Sunday, the Men in Blue posted a formidable 175 for 7, marking the highest total ever in T20 World Cup matches between these two nations.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first, putting India under early pressure. The innings kicked off disastrously as Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck in the very first over. But Ishan Kishan steadied the ship, forging an explosive 87-run partnership for the second wicket with Tilak Varma off just 46 balls.
Kishan dazzled with a brisk 77 off 40 balls, smashing 10 fours and 3 sixes before departing. Captain Suryakumar Yadav then joined Tilak, adding 38 runs for the third wicket. Tilak contributed a solid 25, but India slipped to 126 for 4 soon after.
Suryakumar’s gritty 32 off 29 balls, including 3 fours, alongside Shivam Dube’s 27, pushed the score further with a 33-run stand for the fifth wicket. Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 11 off 4 balls, helping India cross the 175-mark.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the standout bowler with 3 for 25, while Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Usman Tariq claimed one wicket each. This monumental total sets a new benchmark in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clashes, surpassing previous highs like India’s 160 for 6 in 2022 and 157 for 5 in 2007.
As Pakistan gears up to chase 176, the stage is set for another chapter in this iconic rivalry. India’s batting firepower has given them a commanding position in this high-stakes clash.