T20 World Cup 2026: ‘India vs Pakistan becomes a political, not a sporting, contest’

Once the cricket match finally started, Ishan Kishan’s powerful knock delighted the large Indian crowd – which, we must say, was not at full capacity. Usman Tariq’s antics, and his Jorginho-like stop when taking a penalty kick, dominated the pre-match chat. He failed to remain champion of the competition itself, although he did bow out rudely towards Suryakumar after dismissing the man who was filmed imitating his ways during the Indian network’s sessions.

At the mid-innings break, some dared to think we might be facing a chase with Pakistan needing 176 runs. Dominant India, who took four wickets and conceded just 39, put such notions to a quick end.

The score in this match in the T20 World Cup now reads 8-1 in favor of India. This competition has become political rather than sporting. As boring as interference may be, it offers a lot more to discuss than one side constantly outdoing the other.

As if aware of this, in a lull during Pakistan’s inevitable defeat, the ICC replayed the friendly conversation between Wasim and Rohit before the match. Aren’t we all fine? Not just to the extent that the players shook hands as soon as India finished its bombardment. This sign of respect still seems out of reach.

Indian Axar Patel said: “We look at them as one team, and we don’t think of it as a competition or anything else.”

“We play against one team and focus on cricket. When I play, I don’t think about anything, I treat it as one match and one opponent.”

After the last wicket, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey did not feel they had achieved their required workload. The former pitched three innings in the game, the latter was not required. Bowling coach Morne Morkel came out to do extra work with his baseball glove. The opposition has resoundingly addressed the need for more representatives.

It’s an appropriate reflection, not that it was needed, of this contest’s non-existent relationship with the kind of stakes required to make us all forget politics.