Suryakumar's Part-Time Twist Leaves Pakistan "Zaleel" In Record T20 World Cup Defeat

India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by a record 61-run margin in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with former India cricketer Atul Wassan praising captain Suryakumar Yadav’s bold tactical call late in the match.

Batting first at R. Premadasa Stadium, the India national cricket team posted 175/7 on a slow surface, powered by Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls. The innings, studded with 10 fours and three sixes, helped India recover after the early loss of Abhishek Sharma and set up a challenging total. In response, the Pakistan national cricket team was bowled out for 114 in 18 overs despite Usman Khan’s 44.

India’s bowlers kept Pakistan under constant pressure. Hardik Pandya struck with a wicket maiden early on, while Jasprit Bumrah dismantled the top order with a fiery spell. Hardik, Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets each, with Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma taking one apiece.

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With the match firmly in control during the second innings, India captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to part-time options Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh. Former India pacer Atul Wassan,  described the move as a symbolic show of dominance, remarking that the decision effectively “humiliated” Pakistan by demonstrating India’s commanding position.

The victory marked India’s biggest win over Pakistan in T20 Internationals by runs and secured their place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. It also extended India’s head-to-head advantage over Pakistan in T20 World Cup encounters to 8–1.

India’s comprehensive showing with both bat and ball underlined their strong title credentials, while Pakistan were left searching for answers after another one-sided defeat in the high-profile rivalry.

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