Colombo erupted in cheers as India delivered a crushing 61-run victory over Pakistan in the 27th match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday. Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha didn’t mince words post-match, pinpointing a disastrous powerplay as the root of their downfall.
Chasing a formidable 176, Pakistan’s innings crumbled early. By the 4.5-over mark, they had lost four wickets, leaving them reeling at a precarious position. What followed was a batting collapse, with the team bowled out for just 114 in 18 overs. Agha’s frustration was palpable: ‘If you lose 3-4 wickets in the powerplay, you’re always playing catch-up. That’s exactly what happened today.’
The decision to field four spinners backfired spectacularly. ‘Their performance was off, especially in crucial moments where execution faltered,’ Agha admitted. He noted the pitch improved in the second innings, but Pakistan failed to adapt. ‘Emotions run high in these India-Pakistan clashes; we need to manage them better.’
This loss drops Pakistan to third in Group A with one win from three games and a net run rate of -0.403. The USA, with two victories from four, holds second place at +0.787. India, unbeaten with a hat-trick of wins, has already secured Super-8 qualification.
Looking ahead, Pakistan faces Namibia on February 18 in their final league fixture. A win there could propel them into the next stage. ‘We’ve been here before,’ Agha said resolutely. ‘We’ll focus on the next game, win it, qualify, and treat the Super-8 as a fresh tournament.’ Fans will be watching closely to see if Pakistan can bounce back from this high-stakes setback.