Match overview
India Cricket beat Pakistan Cricket by 61 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 15 February 2026. India posted 175/7 from their 20 overs after Pakistan chose to field. Pakistan's chase was effectively over inside the first six overs: they lost 4 wickets for 38 runs in the powerplay and never threatened the target. They were bowled out for 114. Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match. The result extended India's T20I head-to-head advantage over Pakistan to 42 wins from 69 meetings.
India's innings was built steadily. They reached 52/1 in the powerplay, added 75 more runs in the middle overs for 3 wickets, then cleared 48 in the death phase despite losing another 3 wickets. The total of 175 fell below the venue's average first-innings score of 189, but the pitch had enough in it for India's bowlers to do the rest.
Pakistan needed a substantial opening stand just to make the chase competitive. Instead, 4 wickets fell inside the powerplay. The remaining batters added 56 runs in the middle overs and just 20 in the death overs. Being bowled out for 114 in a T20I chase of 176 left India as convincing winners.
Venue and conditions
R. Premadasa Stadium has hosted 176 T20 matches, making it one of the most data-rich venues in the format. The average first-innings score is 189 and the average second-innings score is 161. Teams batting second win 48 per cent of the time, a figure that is roughly even but still tilts slightly towards first-innings teams. Pakistan chose to field after winning the toss; across matches at the ground, teams opt to field only 34 per cent of the time after winning the toss, suggesting that batting first is the more common preference.
The powerplay at Premadasa typically yields around 46 runs per innings. India's 52/1 in the powerplay was above average. Pakistan's 38/4 was well below it, and the wickets proved more damaging than the run-rate. The pitch's pace and carry suit both seam bowlers early and spinners through the middle overs, with the surface historically producing significant turn. The average death-overs score is 35 runs; India's 48 in that phase was a meaningful acceleration.
How to watch
T20 international cricket involving India and Pakistan is typically broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the United Kingdom. Streaming access is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers, or via a NOW TV day or monthly pass for those without a full Sky subscription. UK start times for matches in Sri Lanka generally fall between midday and early afternoon, depending on the scheduled start time locally. Check Sky Sports' listings for exact UK kickoff times for any remaining fixtures in this series.
For ICC tournament fixtures, BBC Radio also provides live commentary coverage, though television rights for bilateral series rest with Sky. The BBC Sport website carries live text commentary for most international fixtures regardless of television arrangements.
Recent form
India arrived at this fixture in strong form. Their 2026 record before this match read: wins over Namibia, the United States, and New Zealand, a loss to New Zealand, and another win against New Zealand. Four wins from five matches, with all results coming in 2026, points to a squad that has been rotating its resources without much difficulty against lower-ranked opposition.
Pakistan's recent form was similarly encouraging on paper. They won five consecutive T20I matches in 2026, including three victories over Australia. Those results suggested a side in decent rhythm heading into Colombo. The manner of their batting collapse here, losing 4 wickets in the powerplay for 38 runs, sits in sharp contrast to that sequence. Both sides face further fixtures in this competition, and for Pakistan, rebuilding their top-order confidence quickly will be the priority going forward.
