In a stunning display of dominance, India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs in their high-stakes T20 World Cup 2026 clash at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dissected the match, pinpointing Pakistan’s toss decision as the fatal mistake that handed India the upper hand.
Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, highlighted how Pakistan’s choice to bowl first after winning the toss backfired spectacularly. ‘They saw Australia struggle to chase 170 against Zimbabwe and thought chasing would be tough here,’ he explained. ‘But in this World Cup, Premadasa has proven a nightmare for teams pursuing big totals, especially in the last 10 overs where 100 runs feel impossible.’
India posted a formidable 175 for 7 in their 20 overs, powered by Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls – laced with 3 sixes and 10 fours. Captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with 32. Pakistan’s chase crumbled to 114 all out in just 18 overs. Usman Khan top-scored with 44 off 34, while Shaheen Afridi remained unbeaten on 23.
Ashwin didn’t hold back on Pakistan’s tactical blunders. ‘India handles pressure 100 times better than Pakistan. Technically, they’ve improved under Salman Agha and Mike Hesson, but bringing in Afridi right after Agha’s first over was a massive error.’ He praised India’s composure under fire, contrasting it sharply with Pakistan’s fragility.
This victory sets India up nicely as they gear up for the Super 8 stage. Next, they face Netherlands in Ahmedabad on Wednesday to wrap up their league phase. Ashwin’s analysis underscores a timeless cricket truth: in knockout-like encounters, the toss can be a game-changer on tricky pitches.