In a blistering opening to the second innings on the R. Premadasa Stadium in T20 World Cup 2026, India‘s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya has signaled a ruthless intent to defend the goal of 176 in opposition to Pakistan. The environment in Colombo, already electrical after Ishan Kishan‘s attacking 77, reached a fever pitch because the Indian vice-captain dismantled Pakistan’s prime order throughout the very first over of the chase.
Hardik Pandya’s wicket-maiden as Sahibzada Farhan falls for a duck
Hardik produced a scientific opening over that has left Pakistan reeling of their pursuit of 176. In a tactical shock, captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Hardik as an alternative of Jasprit Bumrah to start out the assault. Pandya rewarded the religion immediately with a spectacular wicket-maiden; after pinning Sahibzada Farhan with three probing dot balls, he induced a mistimed pull off a pointy, back-of-length supply. The ball ballooned towards mid-on, the place Rinku Singh remained ice-cool underneath strain to finish the catch. This dismissal despatched Farhan again for a four-ball duck and additional cemented Hardik’s standing as Pakistan’s main nemesis, marking his sixteenth profession T20I wicket in opposition to the arch-rivals.
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No sixes, no documentary? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai 🤐
Hardik Pandya 🤝 Rinku Singh
ICC Males’s #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/SpqYo6n3dL pic.twitter.com/2YlRIY60pv
— Star Sports activities (@StarSportsIndia) February 15, 2026
Additionally READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan joins Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s elite list after explosive 77 vs Pakistan
Jasprit Bumrah’s double strike: Pakistan crumble within the powerplay
The nightmare for Pakistan intensified within the second over as Bumrah reminded the world why he’s the gold commonplace of quick bowling. Regardless of Saim Ayub greeting him with a fortuitous six on the primary ball, Bumrah responded with a trademark, searing in-swinging yorker that trapped Ayub (6) plumb in entrance of the stumps.
Simply two balls later, Bumrah struck once more, inducing a vanguard from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha (4) that was comfortably swallowed by Pandya at mid-on. The carnage didn’t cease there, as Axar Patel was launched within the 4th over and instantly cleaned up Babar Azam (5) with a supply that skidded via the gates. By the top of the Powerplay, Pakistan’s chase was in complete disarray at 38/4, with the R. Premadasa crowd witnessing probably the most scientific bowling shows within the event’s historical past.
Additionally READ: ‘Sanju Samson should have played’: Fans troll Abhishek Sharma after he falls for a 4-ball duck during IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 clash
