ANI |
Updated: 16 Feb 2026 00:06 IST
New Delhi [India]February 16 (ANI): Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar praised India’s convincing victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, highlighting the impact of the powerplay and the team’s all-round performance.
“In the power play, India took the game away from them. Ishan Kishan in the first innings and the clinical bowling we saw in the second innings was crucial. We were always in the driver’s seat. India rocked today,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
Meanwhile, former India opener Virender Sehwag reacted strongly to India’s convincing win over Pakistan, praising Ishan Kishan for his defining performance.
Talking about X, Sehwag wrote, “Ishan Kishan acted like a real Dhurandhar. Among all the minnows, Pakistan seemed the easiest for Bharat to beat due to their 17th century approach to T20 cricket and they were thoroughly defeated as usual. Full flounder kuttai.”
Thanks to a convincing win over their arch-rivals in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match, India now leads 8-1.
Coming into the match, Pakistan elected to field first after winning the toss and after Abhishek was out, Ishan’s ruthless 77 and Tilak’s calm 25 kept India steady but the Men in Blue slumped to 126/4, losing their batters for a set and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0).
However, captain Suryakumar, Shivam and Rinku finished the innings well, distributing their shots perfectly in difficult conditions. India scored 175/7 with Saim Ayub (3/25) emerging as Pakistan’s best bowler.
Chasing the ball, Pakistan were reduced to 34/4 thanks to early strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan (44 off 34 balls, with six fours and a six) was the only one to appear to bat as Team India bundled Pakistan out for just 114 runs in 18 overs, advancing to the Super 8 stage with their third straight win.
Axar (2/29 in four overs) was the best bowler for India, Hardik (2/16 in three overs), Bumrah (2/17 in two overs) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17 in three overs) were also among the wickets.
India remains in first place with three wins from three matches in Group A, Pakistan has dropped to third with two wins and a loss, and the US is currently in second place with two wins and two losses. (ANI)