IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan reveals his latest secret after thumping Pakistan

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Ishan Kishan proved why he is one of the most dangerous openers in T20 cricket, smashing a brilliant 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026 match on Sunday (February 15).

His innings featured 10 fours and 3 sixes, setting the tone for India's winning total of 175. The southpaw came into the match with blistering form and continued his scoring spree, which earned him the Player of the Match award. Accepting the award at the post-match presentation, Kishan shared how he handled the tricky Colombo surface.

"The wicket was not that easy. Sometimes, you just have to believe and focus on your strengths. Was just watching the ball, sticking to my strengths and making them run as much as possible. I did work a lot on my off-side game, so that I can have them bowl where I want them to bowl. On a big ground, you get bigger gaps. Trying to hit the gaps, trying to take two runs."

Ishan Kishan hails India pacers

He also touched upon the pressure of the rivalry and the support of his teammates. The Indian pacers made a superb start and Kishan hailed pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who rocked Pakistan early in the run chase with 3 wickets in the first two overs.

"They (Bumrah and Hardik) bowled tremendously well. Pace bowlers, when I was batting, did not feel like it was doing much for pacers. We know how Jassi can bowl, whether with the new ball or at the death. Credit goes to Hardik for bowling in tight areas and for executing his plans," Kishan added.

Ishan Kishan's second consecutive half-century has cemented his place as India's premier opener in the tournament. Fans will be eager to see if he can carry this "marauding form" into the next match against the Netherlands and the Super 8 matches in India.