Star India opener Ishan Kishan dismantled Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy with a scintillating 77 off 40 balls in a high-stakes T20 World Cup 2026 clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. On a slow, tacky surface where the ball gripped, and strokeplay demanded precision, Kishan’s calculated aggression proved decisive in shifting early momentum India’s way.
Pakistan sensed an opening when Abhishek Sharma fell for his second duck of the tournament in the first over. Reading the pitch quickly, they unleashed spin inside the Powerplay, bowling five overs of it in the first six — only the 13th such instance in T20 World Cup history. It was a bold tactical call, designed to choke India’s scoring avenues.
Kishan, however, refused to be boxed in. When Shaheen Afridi dropped short in the second over, Kishan rocked back and launched him for a towering six, setting the tone. He blended fearless intent with smart percentage cricket, riding his luck when edges flew but never allowing Pakistan to settle.
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Against spin, he was even more assured. He swept and cut Abrar Ahmed with authority and used his feet cleverly against Saim Ayub, picking length early and punishing anything marginally short. By the end of the Powerplay, India had surged to 52 for 1, with Kishan blazing 42 off just 25 balls — now the highest individual Powerplay score by an Indian in an India-Pakistan T20I, eclipsing the previous best of 35.
Different batter, same result! 👀@ishankishan51 greets Shaheen Afridi with a maximum! 💪
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/SpqYo6n3dL pic.twitter.com/yLRPn0yFwH
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 15, 2026
Ishan-daar. Zabardast. Zindabad. 🙌@ishankishan51 completes his fifty in just 27 balls – the fastest in an IND vs PAK World Cup match! 💪
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/SpqYo6n3dL pic.twitter.com/UoNO2JFVAO
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 15, 2026
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Even after the field spread, Kishan kept his foot on the accelerator. Three boundaries in three deliveries outside the Powerplay ensured Pakistan could not claw back control. A crisp boundary off Abrar brought up a 27-ball half-century, drawing applause from the Indian dugout and briefly quieting the opposition’s on-field chatter.
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There was a brief scare when Kishan cramped up attempting a reverse sweep, but he resumed after treatment. Pakistan’s gamble of holding back Usman Tariq eventually bore fruit, as Kishan’s aggressive shuffle across exposed his stumps at 88 for 2 in 8.4 overs — roughly 20 above par on that surface.
Fresh off a 61 against Namibia, this innings carried far greater weight. On a pitch demanding courage and calculation, Kishan delivered both in equal measure.
