For all the build-up, the back-and-forth, and the political theatre that surrounded this game, the result felt unsurprising. India beat Pakistan again at a T20 World Cup. This time, by 61 runs in Colombo.
There was talk of slow pitches, pressure, Pakistan’s improved squad, and their spin threat. In reality, India were better in every department. They handled conditions smarter, batted with more clarity and bowled with control. The win also pushed their World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-1, a statistic that is beginning to define this so-called rivalry. Vice-captain Axar Patel summed up the team’s mindset after the game.
“See, we are seeing them as a team. So we are not thinking about this rivalry or whatever. So we are playing against one team, and we are just focusing on cricket. So whenever I am playing, I am not thinking about what others think. I don’t know. But I treat it as a one match and opponent. So I’m not thinking about any rivalry or whatever. So the opposition came to play, and we have played good cricket. That’s it,” Axar said.
Ishan Kishan turns the game
Given the tacky nature of the Colombo pitch, there was a genuine attempt by India to win the powerplay with the bat when the conditions are easier to bat. And that is exactly what they did. The turning point came early. After losing Abhishek Sharma in the first over and with Tilak Varma struggling to get going, Ishan Kishan changed the tempo.
His 77 off 40 balls did not just steady India, it broke Pakistan’s grip on the game. On a surface where the ball was holding and spinning, Kishan attacked square of the wicket and down the ground with confidence. He hammered 10 fours and 3 sixes, striking at 192.50. In comparison, Pakistan’s batter with the best SR was Usman Khan, with 129 SR (min 10 balls played). There was a huge disparity between the class of batsmanship.
Axar was quick to acknowledge it. “The way he has batted, I think one of the great knocks, because it was not so easy, the ball was spinning, some were going straight under light, so it was not easy, it’s just that the form he has had in the domestic cricket – he has carried it forward to the New Zealand series and then in the last match also he scored 50 – so when you’re confidence is high you don’t think much about yourself or the wicket. Obviously, there is confidence and a lot of skill also. He has not hit all his shots in one place; he has played shots all over, over the cover, slip – so he used the field well. So I think credit goes to him.”
