India delivered another emphatic statement in their long-standing rivalry with Pakistan, cruising to a dominant victory in their T20 World Cup clash at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Despite pre-match hype and tactical talk from Pakistan’s camp, the contest ultimately proved one-sided, with India powered by a decisive innings from Ishan Kishan.
The build-up to the fixture had been intense, marked by political noise and speculation over whether the match would even take place. Once the boycott threat was withdrawn, anticipation surged around what has historically been one of cricket’s most watched rivalries. However, the on-field contest failed to match the billing as India maintained their recent dominance over Pakistan in ICC events.
India entered the match on a five-game winning streak against their neighbours across white-ball formats, underlining the widening competitive gap. Their only recent setbacks in the rivalry have been rare, with Pakistan’s last major T20 World Cup success against India dating back more than a decade. Head-to-head numbers and recent form had already positioned India as favourites heading into the Colombo encounter.
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Pakistan attempted to tailor their strategy to the slow conditions by fielding a spin-heavy attack led by captain Salman Agha. The move briefly appeared justified when India lost an early wicket and the pitch showed significant turn. But the plan quickly unravelled once Kishan settled in at the crease.
The Indian opener countered the spin threat with authority, producing a fluent knock that shifted momentum decisively. His innings ensured India posted a competitive total and left Pakistan chasing the game under mounting pressure — a scenario from which they never recovered.
The latest defeat further dents Pakistan’s record in high-profile ICC clashes against India and reinforces the latter’s recent supremacy in the rivalry. With the tournament moving into its decisive phase, India appear firmly on course, while Pakistan face increasing scrutiny over tactical execution and consistency in major tournaments.
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