Pakistan suffered a crushing 61-run defeat against India in their high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage clash at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The loss has triggered strong reactions from former cricketers and analysts, with many calling the team’s performance disappointing and below international standards.
India’s dominant display secured their place in the Super Eight, while Pakistan must now defeat Namibia in their final group match on February 18 to keep their tournament hopes alive.
India Dominate as Pakistan Collapse for 114
Chasing a competitive total, Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 runs, struggling against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy played a key role, while wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made an early impact that helped shift momentum in India’s favour.
Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar praised India’s approach, saying the match was decided during the powerplay overs. He highlighted Kishan’s aggressive start and India’s clinical bowling in the second innings as the turning points.
Former Pakistan Stars Slam Team’s Performance
The defeat sparked intense criticism from several former Pakistan players.
Former captain and commentator Ramiz Raja described the match as “a bit of a disaster,” especially pointing to the batting failure. He said Pakistan’s batters have repeatedly struggled against India’s bowling unit over the past few years, showing little improvement.
Ex-captain Mohammad Yousuf took a stronger stance, suggesting that it may be time to move on from senior players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan. According to him, Pakistan needs fresh talent instead of relying on occasional wins against weaker teams.
Former opener Ahmed Shahzad labelled the performance as “pathetic cricket,” saying it reflected a repeated pattern in Pakistan cricket — familiar faces but similar disappointing results. However, he suggested that players such as Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, and Salman Mirza should be given opportunities in upcoming matches.
Questions Raised Over Team Strategy and Bowling
Pakistan cricketer Sohaib Maqsood criticised the bowling strategy, stating that the team’s decision-making cost them the match. He argued that the pitch was not suitable for a 180-plus total and that even 140 would have been challenging to chase.
Maqsood also questioned why Pakistan opted to bowl first, especially after preparing on similar surfaces in home series before the T20 World Cup.
International Experts Highlight Growing Gap
Former England captain Michael Vaughan observed that India appear to have a psychological advantage over Pakistan. He said India look stronger in all aspects of the game and handle high-pressure matches with greater confidence.
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle suggested that excessive pressure from Pakistan’s cricket administration may be affecting the players’ performance. He noted that the team looked hesitant and unsure on the field.
Sports presenter Zainab Abbas also described the contest as a one-sided affair, saying it clearly showed the widening gap between the two teams in recent years. She added that Pakistan failed to perform at their full potential, delivering poor bowling spells and careless batting.
Pakistan’s Qualification Scenario
With this loss, Pakistan now face a must-win situation against Namibia. A victory is essential to secure qualification for the next round and keep their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive.
The latest defeat has intensified debates about Pakistan cricket’s future, team selection, leadership decisions, and overall strategy. As pressure mounts, fans and experts alike will be watching closely to see whether the team can bounce back and restore confidence in the remaining matches.
