Pakistan’s crushing 61-run defeat by India in Colombo on Sunday not only damaged their T20 World Cup campaign but also opened the floodgates back home. Former spinner Danish Kaneria was among the first to pounce on the scoring swing alongside Salman Ali Agha after another one-sided chapter in the storied rivalry.
Pakistan’s heavy loss in Colombo not only dented their Super 8 hopes but it also drew strong reactions at home, with Kaneria taking the opportunity to mock the team’s performance and the embarrassment surrounding another one-sided chapter in the rivalry.
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Just minutes before the high-voltage clash began, Pakistan’s X account proudly announced that the match was being screened publicly across all Dera Ghazi Khan tehsils in south-west Punjab. Kaneria’s response was sharp, suggesting that the screening only ensured that fans were “witnessing reality in high definition”.
Kaneria went a step further and claimed that Pakistan’s earlier threat to boycott the India match would have been less humiliating than what happened at the R Premadasa Stadium where India dominated from start to finish.
The former spinner’s comments came amid growing frustration with Pakistan’s repeated struggles against India on the big stage, with Sunday’s defeat marking their biggest loss in the T20I rivalry.
WHY PAKISTAN THREATENED TO BOYCOTT VS INDIA
The marquee clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 was briefly put under a cloud earlier this month when the Pakistani government reportedly pushed for a boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh.
The situation arose after Bangladesh were replaced in the tournament by Scotland after they refused to travel to India for scheduled matches citing security concerns. In response, Pakistan initially announced that they would not play against India.
However, the attitude did not last long. After extensive discussions with ICC officials, Pakistan did a predictable U-turn and confirmed their participationwill ensure that the clash with the blockbuster goes according to plan.
Both teams entered the match unbeaten in the group stage, adding weight to what was expected to be a high-stakes showdown.
HOW PAKISTAN LOST BY HOLE VS INDIA
Once the match started, India made sure there was little room for drama on the field. Ishan Kishan set the tone with a blistering 77 off 40 balls, propels India to a strong total of 175.
Pakistan’s chase never picked up steam. India’s bowling attack continued to tighten the screws with Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel claiming two wickets each.
Pakistan eventually scored 114, giving India a comprehensive 61-run victory. The win further extended India’s dominance in the rivalry, with the head-to-head record now standing at an emphatic 8-1.
It was also another reminder of Pakistan’s inability to deal with India’s spin threat in Colombo as the match became largely one-sided before the final overs.
CAN PAKISTAN QUALIFY FOR SUPER 8S?
The defeat moved Pakistan to third place in the points table and left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Their last league game against Namibia is now a must win game. A win would see Pakistan join India in the Super 8 stage, while a loss could open the door for the US to qualify for a second time.
The US currently sits on four points with a net rate of +0.787, making Pakistan’s error rate extremely low.
With the Netherlands virtually out of contention and Namibia already eliminated, Pakistan’s campaign now rests on one final hurdle, while India have already booked their place and will play their first Super 8 match on February 22.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 16, 2026