Colombo, Feb 15 (NationPress) Captain Suryakumar Yadav commended wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for his remarkable innings of 77, leading India to a 61-run victory against Pakistan in a Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in Colombo on Sunday. He emphasized that Kishan stepped up to take charge of the innings beautifully after starting from a 0-1 position.

Kishan delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 77 runs off 40 balls, which included ten fours and three sixes, on a pitch that favored spin. This allowed India to set a target of 175/7 and subsequently bowled out Pakistan for 114, ensuring a spot in the Super Eights.

“This is for India. We maintained the style of cricket we aimed for. The way Ishan played mirrored his recent performances in both international and domestic games. He thought creatively,” Yadav noted.

“When we were at 0-1, it was crucial for someone to assume responsibility, and Ishan did so wonderfully. There was a slight dip in momentum, which is part of the charm of T20 cricket. The performances from Tilak, Dube, and Rinku were also praiseworthy,” he stated during the post-match presentation.

India's triumph marks their eighth win in nine encounters against Pakistan in the Men’s T20 World Cup. Yadav remarked that the total was above par, giving credit to his bowlers for the victory. “It’s challenging to gauge when batting first. Upon reaching 175, we felt we had 15-20 runs more than needed. Had we scored 155, it would have been a nail-biter. Hardik took the new ball with confidence, and Bumrah showcased his world-class skills. It was encouraging to see contributions from everyone,” he added.

Looking ahead, Yadav expressed confidence that the team would regroup effectively before their upcoming match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. “We’ll reflect on today’s game tomorrow. We plan to spend quality time together as a team tonight and strategize once we reach Ahmedabad,” he concluded.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that his team fell short both with bat and ball. “We opted for four spinners, but some of them had an off-day. Our execution was lacking in certain areas. Starting poorly with the bat, losing 3-4 wickets during the Powerplay puts you in a difficult position,” he admitted.

“The first innings was a bit sticky, with the ball gripping. The pitch improved in the second innings; however, our bowling didn’t match the situation, and we struggled to apply ourselves with the bat. In these high-stakes matches, emotions run high, and we must manage them effectively. We have a game in a couple of days, and our focus is to win that to qualify. Then it’s a fresh start,” he added.