New Delhi, Feb 16 (NationPress) The former captain of Pakistan, Waqar Younis, highlighted the strategic blunders made by the Men in Green during their 61-run defeat against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Younis expressed that the match slipped away from the Salman Agha-led team once India set a total of 175 runs.

With their third consecutive victory, India advanced to the Super 8 stage, bolstered by Ishan Kishan's stunning 77 runs off 40 balls. Conversely, Pakistan now faces a crucial match against Namibia, needing a win to keep their hopes alive for the Super Eights.

In a discussion with Star Sports, Younis remarked that Pakistan's ineffective bowling changes contributed to their downfall. He noted that once India amassed 175 runs, the match was practically decided. He praised the spin conditions and highlighted that Suryakumar Yadav made astute bowling decisions, introducing Hardik Pandya with the new ball. Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional as usual, consistently targeting the stumps and presenting challenges for the Pakistani batsmen. Younis emphasized that Pakistan's bowlers failed to exploit the spin as effectively as their Indian counterparts, declaring that the game was lost in the first innings due to India's high score.

Younis further criticized Pakistan's late introduction of Usman Tariq, suggesting that if India had scored only 140 or 150 runs instead of 175, the outcome could have been different. He stated, 'Salman Ali Agha allowed that delay by not bringing Usman Tariq into the attack earlier. Tariq performed admirably, taking a wicket and giving away just 24 runs. We have been discussing his talents for weeks, but he was held back too long. By the time he bowled, Ishan Kishan had already inflicted significant damage. That was the turning point of the match. We have always acknowledged that Pakistan's batting is inconsistent, but had India scored between 140 and 150, the scenario could have changed.'

Thanks to a dynamic start from Ishan Kishan, India posted 175/7, marking the highest score recorded in a T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Colombo. Defending a target of 176, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah excelled, taking three wickets combined early in the innings to apply immediate pressure on Pakistan.

Usman Khan offered some resistance with a solid 44 runs, but his dismissal at the hands of Axar Patel diminished any remaining hopes for Pakistan, as the Indian bowlers maintained discipline throughout the innings, never relenting their pressure on the batters.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar praised Suryakumar Yadav for his situational awareness during the match, stating, 'You must adapt according to the match situation, which Captain Suryakumar Yadav has done excellently. He has taken charge. During the match against the USA, when the team was struggling at 77 for 6, Surya rescued them. In this match against Pakistan, he entered the game when the score was 88-2 and played until the 19th over, scoring 32 runs. While he didn’t maintain a high strike rate, he ensured wickets remained intact at one end.'

'The rest of the team understands that in T20 cricket, minimizing dot balls is crucial, but one must also avoid reckless dismissals while attempting big hits. Awareness of the match situation, field conditions, and even the wind direction is vital, and Suryakumar has infused that understanding into this Indian side.'

On a similar note, Abhishek Nayar elaborated on the reasons for India's superiority over Pakistan in various aspects of the game, stating, 'The preparation and skill disparity were evident. Indian batters showcased more creativity and versatility. Look at how Ishan Kishan played during the Powerplay; he was sweeping, using his feet, and executing pull shots. It seemed evident that Indian players had a better understanding of their opponents than Pakistan did regarding our bowlers. Across every facet, from the toss to bowling strategies, India was significantly ahead.'