Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan coach Mike Hesson after India’s massive 61-run win in their T20 World Cup 2026 group match in Colombo. It was the one-sided clash in Colombo, where India completely outplayed their rivals.

Pakistan had won the toss but decided to bowl first, and Srikkanth felt this decision cost them the match even before India’s fireworks ended in Colombo. The former Indian chief selector has pointed out that batting first and putting runs on the board on the pitch like Colombo was always the better option.

Kris Srikkanth slams Mike Hesson’s strategy against India

He said that Pakistan made life easy for India by inviting them to bat first. India’s former World Cup winner also questioned Mike Hesson’s strategy. He pointed out that even during his time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, they never won the cup. Srikkanth felt the situation is the same with Pakistan, who are now struggling badly in a crunch situation.

Read Also: Ravichandran Ashwin uneasy about India vs Pakistan final in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’: “It was a golden opportunity after winning the toss, but they chose to bowl first. Mike Hesson as a coach was there at RCB for a long time and did not do anything there as well. Everyone knows that on a wicket like this, if you bat first and score 160-170, you can win the game. They gave us the game on a plate, saying, “Take this, India. Thank you very much.”

Ishan Kishan’s explosive knock changes game

India posted a strong total of 175 for 7 on the board in their 20 overs after being sent in to bat. The star of the night was Ishan Kishan, who smashed 77 runs off just 40 balls. His innings included 10 fours and 3 sixes, and runs came at a remarkable strike rate of 200.

The former Indian chief selector noted that Ishan’s knock put Pakistan under huge pressure. Then there was one over where he attacked Shadab Khan and scored many runs. After that, the match almost finished because India had full control.

He praised Ishan for playing smart cricket and said his journey has been impressive. Just four months ago, Ishan was not even close to the Indian team. But after scoring runs in domestic cricket, he got another chance. He came in as a replacement for players like Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson. Now, he is batting with great consistency and proving himself in big matches.

Read Also: Mike Hesson to be sacked? Pakistan head coach under fire for shocking toss decision vs India

Hats off to this boy: Srikkanth on Ishan

Srikkanth said, “The difference in this game was just five overs: when Ishan scored 38 runs in three overs and then the one over where he hit Shadab Khan, the match was done there.” He hailed Isha for playing “very intelligent cricket,” saying, “Hats off to this boy.” He also lauded his journey, where he made a stunning comeback in the national side after domestic cricket heroics.

Srikkanth slams Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy against India

He added that if Pakistan had batted first and scored around 150 or 160, they could have at least made the contest interesting. The former India captain even questioned the overall quality of Pakistan’s batting and bowling, saying the team looked weak in all departments.

Srikkanth signed off by saying, “Even a kid will tell you that you should have batted first after winning the toss on this wicket. You have been playing here; you know the boundaries. It was ridiculous captaincy. There is something wrong with their entire system. If you come or do not come, it is the same. USA has got a better batting lineup.”

NEW DELHI: Axar Patel stood with his arms outstretched, a broad smile lighting up his face. Moments earlier, he had Pakistan batter Usman Khan stumped by Ishan Kishan by a considerable margin for 44. The wicket left Pakistan reeling at 73 for five, virtually sealing their fate in pursuit of 176 in the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash on Sunday.From a match standpoint, the left-arm spinner’s celebration may have stemmed from the awareness that he had nearly extinguished Pakistan’s hopes.

Axar Patel press conference: ‘We see them as a team, don’t see rivalry’ after India beat Pakistan

But it might also have carried a personal undertone.Usman had taken a liking to Axar, striking six boundaries in his 34-ball knock, including two instances of consecutive fours.Yet, the decisive moment of his dismissal lacked any dramatic flourish.There was none of the sorcery that Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy often produce — no ripping delivery from outside off-stump or a darting missile that flashes past the batter.Then again, Axar has never relied on theatrics.Even on supportive surfaces like the one at the Premadasa, it is his intelligent variations in length — born out of sharp observation — that make him such a difficult proposition.Axar subtly dragged his length back, anticipating Usman’s charge down the track. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter could only swing in hope as Kishan completed the formalities behind the stumps.Axar later outlined his approach.“Basically, what was happening on the wicket, the odd ball was skidding a little more, and some other balls were spinning more. When we came to bowl in the second innings, I realised that the new ball was skidding a little more,” Axar said in the post-match press conference.“So the plan is to observe what the batsman wants to do, in which area he wants to target me. After that I change my line or length. And the second dismissal (Usman) happened when he was stepping out. So I again went for my length. So, yeah, I plan like that,” he added.Earlier, Axar had also ended Babar Azam’s uneasy 16-minute stay at the crease.Detecting Babar’s rising impatience, the 32-year-old slipped in a fuller delivery on off-stump, tempting the former Pakistan captain into a release shot.The attempted slog sweep backfired, with Babar losing his stumps.“He has always been a kid with a big heart. His biggest asset is his ability to observe, and put those observations into practice. He clearly knows what are his strengths and what are his limitations. It is a good quality to have for sportspersons,” said Amrish Patel, Axar’s childhood coach.“Axar has long strides and he puts it into good use, as he can quickly adjust his lengths without any obvious signals to the batsmen. He has a very flexible mind,” he added.Axar carries that adaptability into his batting too, although his skills with the bat were not required against Pakistan.More than his batting slot or the number of runs he contributes, Axar remains focused on fulfilling the team management’s directives.He has slotted in at positions ranging from No. 4 to No. 8 in white-ball cricket.While many batters prefer stability in their batting roles, Axar sees flexibility as an asset.“The job of an all-rounder is that you can bowl or bat at any order. I always think that if the team needs me, then that means they are showing confidence in me that I will work in such a situation.“And I will get them out of this situation. So, it is a plus point for me. And, yeah, maybe in the upcoming match, you can see me (bat) higher up also – you never know,” said Axar.For now, though, Axar the batter is content to play a supporting role to Axar the bowler — the version India need most in this T20 World Cup.

NEW DELHI: After Congress dissociated itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar following his prediction that the rival Left front will win in Kerala elections, the veteran hit back on Monday saying he remains with the party even as ‘friends of Rahul Gandhi’ have left for other parties. The issue flared up on Sunday when Aiyar, attending a function organised by Kerala govt, said Vijayan will return to power. Taking up cudgels on behalf of the Left, Aiyar had said in Thiruvananthapuram, “As a Congressman, I want UDF to win. As a Gandhian, I am obliged to tell the truth, irrespective of what I wish. I am not a voter in Kerala, but I think he (Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan) is going to get another term.” A stung Congress dissociated itself from Aiyar, with spokesman Pawan Khera saying Aiyar has been writing and speaking in personal capacity for past few years, and Khera’s post on X was corroborated by Jairam Ramesh. A day later, Aiyar got back with a bitter attack on Congress. “The Nehru-Gandhi family is built into the DNA of every Congressman. Why should anyone be in Congress when all of Rahul Gandhi’s friends have departed for other shores. It’s only because if you don’t believe in the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family, you would not be in Congress,” he said, adding, “I am in Congress, I have not left it. If Pawan Khera is going to expel me, I will happily go outside and kick his backside.” Interestingly, Aiyar also made remarks like “I am Rajivian (Rajiv Gandhi), not Rahulian (Rahul Gandhi)”, and that he does not need Congress, as it does not need him. Besides, he also criticised other Congress members at the national level and in Kerala. Aiyar has been a thorn in the flesh for Congress, with his remarks on politicians and politics having embarrassed Congress many times. His barb at PM Narendra Modi ahead of 2017 Gujarat assembly elections had resulted in Congress suspending him in Dec 2017, but the suspension was revoked in Aug 2018. It is not clear if Congress will again act against Aiyar. Sources said there had not been any discussion on it till late afternoon.

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Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was briefly stopped and asked to produce his identity card by security staff at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.A video that went viral on social media showed a security officer asking the Pakistani army chief to keep his identity card visible. Just steps away from the conference entry, a security official is heard saying, “Stop… where is your ID? Please flip your ID card.”

The Munich Security Conference, widely regarded as a key platform for dialogue and conflict resolution, annually brings together world leaders, diplomats, and security experts to address international peace and security challenges.Meanwhile, Munir’s visit was also objected to by Germany-based Sindhi political organisation Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), which called the invitation “deeply regrettable.” Members of the JSMM protested outside the venue, highlighting alleged human rights violations in Pakistan.In a formal statement addressed to the United Nations, the European Union, the German government, and international human rights bodies, JSMM Chairman Shafi Burfat expressed what he described as “deep shock and regret” over Munir’s presence at the high-level global forum.JSMM alleged that Pakistan’s military establishment has a historical record of human rights violations and political interference. The group referred to the 1971 events in former East Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh, describing them as genocide. It also accused Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies of supporting extremist elements in the region — allegations that Islamabad has consistently denied.The organisation further claimed that Pakistan’s military wields disproportionate influence over the country’s political and judicial institutions. It cited the assassinations of former leaders, including Liaquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto, as well as the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as examples of alleged instability linked to military dominance. It also referenced the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, attributing it to tensions with the current military leadership.