Ishan Kishan slams 27-ball 50 in IND vs PAK ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Match 27

Defending champions India got a strong start in the Group A fixture of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, as the opener Ishan Kishan slammed Pakistan bowlers in the early overs of the match. 

While Colombo is hosting this big match on Sunday night (February 15), Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to field first after winning the toss in the full crowd stadium.

India lost opener Abhishek Sharma for duck in first over

Pakistan got a big breakthrough in the first over, as captain Salman Ali Agha dismissed the dangerous Indian opener Abhishek Sharma for a duck, as Shaheen Shah Afridi caught him at the mid on comfortably, as India scored 1 for 1 at the end of the first over of the match.

However, the situation changed soon from the first ball of the next over, as the opener Ishan Kishan welcomed the tall Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi with a six. It was just a start as the left-handed Indian wicketkeeper-batter had no mercy on any of the Pakistan bowlers inside the powerplay or after the powerplay. With the time progress, he became more dangerous. 

Ishan Kishan scored 77 off 40 balls after scoring 27-ball 50

At the end of the powerplay, India scored 52/1, where Ishan slammed 42 runs off just 25 balls. The storm only became brutal after the powerplay, as Ishan hit three consecutive fours in the first three balls of the seventh over. With a straight long four, Ishan completed his half-century in just 27 balls. He hit seven fours and two sixes to complete his brutal half-century. 

When Ishan was finally dismissed by Saim Ayub as the left-handed batter was bowled, India scored 88/2 in 8.4 overs, while Ishan scored 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. While the pitch is tough for the batters against the spinners from the beginning of the match, Ishan had 12 dot balls and ended with a strike rate of 193.