In a blistering show of batting brilliance on the R. Premadasa Stadium, India‘s explosive opener Ishan Kishan has redefined aggression towards the arch-rivals Pakistan. Rising to the T20 World Cup 2026 event on February 15, 2026, he reworked the high-pressure environment of Colombo into his private playground, dismantling a potent bowling assault with surgical precision. His masterclass in boundary-hitting ensured that regardless of an early setback, the momentum shifted firmly again towards the Males in Blue.
Ishan Kishan’s 77 vs Pakistan earns him spot in elite listing with Virat Kohli and Gaitam Gambhir
By smashing a wide ranging 77 off simply 40 balls, Kishan has formally joined an elite and unique bracket of Indian legends. He turns into solely the fourth Indian batter to attain a half-century towards Pakistan in T20 World Cup historical past, etching his title alongside Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa. Kishan’s innings was notably important as he neutralized the ‘thriller’ spin of Usman Tariq and the off-spin of Salman Agha, who had earlier eliminated Abhishek Sharma for a duck. His 10 fours and three sixes not solely propelled India to a commanding place but in addition made him the primary Indian wicketkeeper-batter to realize this milestone within the match’s historical past.
| Batter | Rating | Venue/Yr | Match Sort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Uthappa | 50 (39) | Durban, 2007 | Group Stage |
| Gautam Gambhir | 75 (54) | Johannesburg, 2007 | Last |
| Virat Kohli | 78 (61)* | Colombo, 2012 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 55 (37)* | Kolkata, 2016 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 57 (49) | Dubai, 2021 | Group Stage |
| Virat Kohli | 82 (53)* | Melbourne, 2022 | Group Stage |
| Ishan Kishan | 77 (40) | Colombo, 2026 | Group Stage |
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
Saim Ayub stalls India’s momentum in T20 World Cup 2026 conflict
The high-octane conflict started with a frosty ‘no-handshake’ coverage on the toss, however India rapidly seized management by means of Kishan’s historic 77-run blitz. Nonetheless, the sport has taken a dramatic flip within the center overs as Pakistan’s Saim Ayub engineered a surprising collapse to pull his aspect again into the competition. After eradicating a cramping Kishan within the ninth over, Ayub returned within the fifteenth to take away Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) on consecutive deliveries, leaving India reeling at 126/4. Kishan has been the simple star of India’s 2026 marketing campaign to date, including this masterclass to his 24-ball 61 towards Namibia, however the strain now rests fully on captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to salvage the innings within the dying overs.
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
