Ishan Kishan’s 70-run blitz off 40 balls puts Pakistan on the ropes in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Ishan Kishan was unstoppable in India’s third match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against Pakistan. He didn’t allow the spinners to settle down and hit fours and sixes with ease on a slow track in Colombo.

After losing Abhishek Sharma early in the innings, Ishan went berserk. He targeted all parts of the ground, with former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raza praising him for his brilliant effort with the bat.

Kishan scored 70 runs off 40 balls, laced with 10 fours and 3 sixes, with his runs coming at a strike rate of 192.50. He added 87 runs for the second wicket with Tilak Varma, who was the spectator at the non-striker’s end.

Saim Ayub dismissed him, but the damage was already done. He was recalled to the national side after two years and showed his class in the five-match series against New Zealand. Kishan scored a hundred in the final game of the assignment and was promoted to open the batting after Sanju Samson’s failures.

The left-handed batter justified the move with a fifty in a practice game against South Africa and continued to dominate the bowlers in the global tournament. After a rare failure against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium, he returned to form in the next game with Namibia, amassing a half-century. He saved his best for the arch-rivals on February 15.