T20 World Cup 2026 Results: India thrash Pakistan in a one-sided encounter in Colombo

For a while it looked like this match wasn’t going to happen.

Pakistan, whose last victory over India was in the Asian Cup in 2022, announced its boycott a week before the start of the tournament, but retracted its decision at the beginning of this week after intense talks.

It went ahead in front of a huge crowd weighted towards the Indian Blue, because it is the most profitable fixture in the world game, providing the money the cricket ecosystem depends on to survive in its current imperfect state.

It remains to be seen how long this will remain the case under India’s dominance, built on cricket and financial power.

Kishan’s attack gave India breathing room and their bowlers were relentless, even if their spinners dropped three overs.

After the Pakistan seamers went the distance, Hardik started with a wicket delivery – dismissing the right-hander Sahibzada Farhan, who hit a shot high to mid on.

In the next over, the imposing Bumrah pinned left-hander Saim Ayyub in front with a powerful catch, before Pakistan’s Salman Agha holed out playing a powerful catch.

Even Pakistan’s biggest name, Babar Azam, was bowled exhaustingly for five trying to bowl to left-arm spinner Axar Patel at number five, while left-armer Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf picked off fielders in the deep overs.

After all the preparation, this was another disappointing meeting.