While the India cricket team were bracing themselves for mystery spinner Usman Tariq, it turned out to be that Saim Ayub was the most effective in the IND vs PAK clash in Colombo on Sunday. The all-rounder clinched three important wickets in the game against the arch-rivals and managed to single-handedly put brakes on their run-rate in the T20 World Cup 2026 tie. The game marked the first time in the T20 WC history that six spinners had been used in an innings.
Saim Ayub shadows Tariq in IND vs PAK tie
While India were deeply concerned about Tariq, it turned out that Ayub was their biggest threat. The Pakistan all-rounder did well to first get rid of an in-form Ishan Kishan, who was dismissed for 77 runs after scoring 80% of India’s runs at the time of his dismissal. He managed to outfox the batter by castling him to provide Pakistan their second breakthrough.
Next, Ayub returned in his final over of the game to get rid of Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya. Tilak’s slow-paced innings of 25 off 24 balls finally came to and end as he was trapped for an LBW. The batter wanted to review it but decided to walk back after consulting captain Suryakumar Yadav at the other end.
The next to depart was Hardik, who attempted a big hit off his very first delivery but was caught out by Babar Azam. Ayub finished his four-over spell with figures of 3/25, emerging as Pakistan’s besst bowler. On the contrary, the dangerous Tariq has gone wicketless, while having conceded 20 runs from the three overs that he has bowled so far (at the time of publishing this copy).
Most overs of spin in a T20 WC innings
- 18 – PAK vs AUS – Colombo – 2012
18 PAK vs IND – Colombo – 2026 *
16 – AFG vs ENG – Delhi – 2016
16 – AFG vs WI – Nagpur – 2016
16 – PAK vs USA – Colombo – 2026
So far, Ayub has lived up to his reputation of being one of Pakistan’s best part-time spinners, and has taken five wickets from three games in the T20 World Cup 2026.
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