India Crushes Pakistan by 61 Runs in T20 World Cup; Questions Loom Over Green Shirts’ Strategy
India thumps Pakistan in Colombo as Kishan stars; Pakistan must regroup with Super 8 spot still within reach.
Ateeq Ur Rehman
In a one-sided ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash in Colombo, India handed Pakistan a convincing 61-run defeat, exposing gaps in Pakistan’s tactics and execution while keeping Super 8 hopes alive. Dawn reported the game was far from a classic, more a clinical beating than a cliffhanger.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 175 for 7, anchored by a blistering 77 off 40 balls by Ishan Kishan, whose innings put Pakistan’s bowlers on notice early. India’s innings featured solid contributions from the middle order and disciplined bowling that kept Pakistan on the back foot throughout.
Pakistan’s reply never got off the ground. The top and middle order collapsed quickly, leaving the chase in tatters as they were skittled out for 114 in 18 overs. Only a gritty 44 from Usman Khan offered a faint resistance, too little too late.
Tactical Missteps and Missed Opportunities
According to Dawn, captain Salman Ali Agha’s bold decisions backfired, from bowling first on a slow pitch to using spin against left-handed Indian batters without early breakthroughs. Those calls ultimately left Pakistan on the back foot.
Pakistan’s bowling attack lacked penetration, with frontline pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi looking short of his best, conceding 31 runs in just two overs. Critics said the side’s reliance on reputation over form may have cost them crucial moments.
On batting, Dawn reported reckless shot-making and a failure to build partnerships saw Pakistan’s plan unravel early, leaving veteran batters like Babar Azam and Agha unable to stem the slide.
Positive Notes and What’s Next
Despite the heavy loss, Pakistan remain in contention for the next round, a win against Namibia in their final group game will seal a Super 8 place. Dawn highlighted that the team has shown signs of rediscovering its footing in recent months but still has much to learn against top nations like India.
Off the field, the traditional India-Pakistan rivalry echoed as the teams once again skipped the customary handshake, underlining the tension that still shadows this marquee fixture.
For Pakistan, the message is clear, big decisions and bold intent must be matched by execution if they hope to go deeper in this tournament.
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