In a brilliant display of batting at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Indiaexplosive switch Ishan Kishi redefined aggression against arch-rivals Pakistan. rises to T20 World Cup 2026 On February 15, 2026, he turned the high-pressure atmosphere of Colombo into his personal playground by dismantling a powerful bowling attack with surgical precision. His boundary hitting masterclass ensured the momentum swung firmly back to the Men in Blue despite the early setback.
Ishan Kishan’s 77 vs Pakistan earns him a place in the elite list with Virat Kohli and Gaitam Gambhir.
With a breathtaking 77 off just 40 balls, Kishan officially joined the elite and exclusive bracket of Indian legends. He became the fourth Indian batsman in T20 World Cup history to score a half-century against Pakistan and etched his name along with it. Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa. Kisha’s shots were particularly important as she neutralized the ‘mystery’ spin Osman Tariq and off-spin Salman Aghaearlier he got Abhishek Sharma out for a duck. His haul of 10 fours and 3 sixes not only propelled India to a commanding position but also made him the first Indian wicketkeeper to reach this milestone in the history of the tournament.
| Dough | Account | Location/Province | Compatibility type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Uthappa | 50 (39) | Durban, 2007 | Group stage |
| Gautam Gambhir | 75 (54) | Johannesburg, 2007 | The final |
| Virat Kohli | 78 (61)* | Colombo, 2012 | Group stage |
| Virat Kohli | 55 (37)* | Kolkata, 2016 | Group stage |
| Virat Kohli | 57 (49) | Dubai, 2021 | Group stage |
| Virat Kohli | 82 (53)* | Melbourne, 2022 | Group stage |
| Ishan Kishi | 77 (40) | Colombo, 2026 | Group stage |
Saim Ayub stops India’s momentum in T20 World Cup 2026 clash
The high-octane clash started with a frosty ‘handshake’ policy during the toss, but India quickly took control with Kishan’s historic 77-run blitz. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the middle as it did in Pakistan Saim Ayub produced a stunning collapse to drag his side back into the contest. Ayub returned in the 15th after removing the agitated Kisha in the 9th. Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (0) off successive deliveries, reeling India at 126/4. Kishan has been the undisputed star of India’s 2026 campaign so far and added that masterclass to his 24-ball 61 against Namibia, but now the pressure is squarely on the captain. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey save the innings in the death overs.
