“It was a no contest.”
India spin great Anil Kumble best summed up the outcome of the much-hyped India–Pakistan clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday.
“It was a no contest. Indian bowlers bowled better. You have to hit the pitch, and that’s how Hardik Pandya started off with the ball. And Jasprit Bumrah is a class apart,” said Kumble on ESPNcricinfo after India routed their bitter rivals by 61 runs to qualify for the Super Eight in a showdown that had been in doubt until a few days earlier.
Former India pace bowler Irfan Pathan echoed the sentiment, saying: “There is no contest between India and Pakistan any more. We are talking about this rivalry because of what happens off the field.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote on X: “India seem to intimidate Pakistan on the cricket field. They are so much better in all facets of the game and have a stronger mentality for coping with the huge occasion.”
Suryakumar Yadav’s side scored 175/7 after being given a flying start by Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 77, before bowling out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs.
The defeat extended Pakistan’s poor record against India in World Cups.
India's win-loss record against Pakistan at the men's T20 World Cup, including a win via a bowl-out in 2007. No other team has won more than six matches against an opponent at the tournament over the years.
It was also India's sixth consecutive win in men's T20Is against Pakistan, including those at T20 World Cups.
Pakistan got off to the worst possible start in their chase of 176, with Sahibzada Farhan top-edging a slog across the line to mid-on for a duck in Pandya’s first over.
It became 6-2 when Bumrah’s second ball trapped Saim Ayub (6) plumb in front.
Captain Salman Agha (4) was next to go, another mistimed slog off Bumrah leaving Pakistan in dire straits at 13-3.
When spinner Axar Patel bowled Babar Azam for five, Pakistan were in tatters at 34/4.
Usman Khan offered some resistance, scoring 44 from 34 balls with one six and six fours.
But after he charged down the pitch to Axar and was stumped by Kishan by a mile, it triggered a mini-collapse to 78/7, effectively ending the contest.
Earlier, India captain Suryakumar and his Pakistan counterpart Agha did not shake hands at the coin toss, which Agha won and chose to field.
The two captains had done the same in their three matches at the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, including the final.
The Group A clash was confirmed only six days earlier after the Pakistan government made a U-turn on a threat to boycott the encounter.
