3 months ago
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India skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated Sunday's (February 16, 2026) Twenty20 World Cup triumph implicit Pakistan to fans crossed the country, portion his other number Salman Agha urged position aft a chastening decision successful a contention that never matched its blockbuster billing.
The much-hyped showdown betwixt the South Asian neighbours, who engaged successful a subject struggle that astir snowballed into a fully-fledged warfare past year, failed to ignite arsenic India racked up 175-7 and past returned to bundle retired Pakistan for 114 successful 18 overs.
The match itself passed without flashpoints contempt the tensions, but determination was no shaking of hands betwixt the rival captains astatine the toss. Both Suryakumar and Salman looked grim erstwhile the coin was flipped and averted oculus contact.
The temper was wholly antithetic erstwhile the India skipper spoke aft the lucifer astatine the R. Premadasa Stadium.
"This is for India. We played the aforesaid marque of cricket that we wanted to play," the batter said, sporting a wide grin.
Praise for Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar heaped praise connected opener Ishan Kishan whose accelerated 77 fashioned their victory.
"The mode Ishan Kishan batted is the aforesaid arsenic helium did successful our erstwhile games and connected the home circuit. Ishan thought extracurricular the box and took work successful the powerplay."
Player of the lucifer Kishan conceded it was not conscionable different crippled for them fixed the tensions betwixt the nations.
"India v Pakistan is simply a peculiar game for america and our country," Kishan said.
"It is simply a precise important game. They had bully spinners and we tried to play bully shots. It gives america assurance going up successful the tournament."
Salman expected squad to bash better
The lucifer had been successful uncertainty aft Pakistan had decided to boycott it successful solidarity with Bangladesh, who refused to circuit India implicit information concerns and were replaced by Scotland successful the 20-team tournament.
The governing International Cricket Council held hectic behind-the-scenes discussions to salvage the fixture adjacent though it ended successful a lop-sided contention with India improving their T20 World Cup grounds against Pakistan to 8-1.
Pakistan captain Salman felt his teammates should person done amended contempt the load of anticipation connected their shoulders.
"In these games the emotions are going to beryllium precocious but we person played capable cricket," Salman said. "We need to get ourselves unneurotic and look to the crippled successful a fewer days' time. You person to spot the large picture. We request to suffice for the Super Eight now."
Pakistan volition request to bushed Namibia successful their last radical crippled to suffice for the Super Eight wherever the arch-rivals whitethorn clash again.
