India vs Pakistan :Saim Ayub Denied Hat-Trick in T20 World Cup Thriller

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Pakistan dragged themselves back into the contest in the 14th over as Saim Ayub delivered a decisive spell to halt India's charge at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

At 126/2, India had begun to shift gears. Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan had rebuilt after the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, rotating strike smartly and picking up boundaries to keep the run rate healthy. The momentum, however, tilted abruptly.

Ayub struck first with a sharp lbw decision against Tilak Varma, the ball skidding on and trapping him in front at a crucial juncture. It was the breakthrough Pakistan desperately needed on a surface that had started to flatten out.

The left-arm spinner had already removed Ishan Kishan earlier, another key wicket, and was operating with control and variation. But the over was not done yet.

Hardik Pandya walked in, expected to counter-attack and reassert India's dominance. Instead, Ayub produced a clever carrom-ball variation angled across off stump. Pandya, looking to free his arms, found only a leading edge, and the ball looped safely into Babar Azam's hands. Two wickets in two balls. Pakistan were suddenly alive again.

Ayub went upstairs immediately for a hat-trick chance, appealing against Shivam Dube, but the review went against him as Dube stood firm. The hat-trick eluded him, yet the damage was already done.

From 126/2 and cruising, India were forced into recalibration. Ayub's burst had rolled Pakistan right back into the game: a reminder that in T20 cricket, one over can rewrite the script entirely.