T20 World Cup: India Recover to 175/7 After Middle-Order Stumble vs Pakistan

India rode on a blazing knock from Ishan Kishan and a late flourish from Rinku Singh to post a competitive 175 for 7 against Pakistan in their high-voltage clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.

Kishan Sets The Tone 

Asked to bat first after Pakistan opted to field, India lost Abhishek Sharma early, but Kishan quickly seized control of the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter attacked from the outset, taking on both pace and spin with confidence and finding regular boundaries.

He raced to a half-century in just 27 balls, dismantling Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy and ensuring India maintained a strong scoring rate through the powerplay. His 77-run knock provided the platform for the rest of the batting unit, even as wickets began to fall at the other end.

Pakistan, led by their varied spin options, gradually pulled things back in the middle overs. Saim Ayub removed Kishan at a crucial stage, while tight spells from the spinners slowed India’s momentum and prevented a bigger total from building.

Middle-Order Stumbles, Pakistan Regain Control

Captain Suryakumar Yadav attempted to anchor the innings but struggled to accelerate, eventually departing for 32 off 29 balls. Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya also fell in quick succession, allowing Pakistan to claw their way back into the contest.

With India slipping from a commanding position, the onus shifted to the lower middle order to rebuild and finish strongly.

Rinku, Dube Provide Late Surge

Shivam Dube injected some momentum with a couple of timely boundaries, while Rinku Singh played the finisher’s role to perfection. The left-hander struck crucial boundaries and a six in the closing overs, ensuring India did not lose momentum at the death.

Pakistan’s spearhead Shaheen Afridi returned for the final over and picked up two wickets in the last two deliveries, but by then India had already pushed their total to a competitive 175 for 7.

High-Intensity Build-Up

The contest carried added intensity even before the first ball was bowled. Both teams skipped the customary pre-match handshake, continuing a trend seen in recent India–Pakistan fixtures across formats.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to bowl first reflected confidence in his bowling attack and conditions, while India’s line-up featured an extra spin option as they prepared for a tactical battle against their arch-rivals.

With Kishan’s explosive innings and a composed finish from the lower order, India ensured they had a solid total on the board in what promises to be a closely fought encounter.

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