In a blistering opening to the second innings at the R. Premadasa Stadium in T20 World Cup 2026, India‘s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya has signaled a ruthless intent to defend the target of 176 against Pakistan. The atmosphere in Colombo, already electric after Ishan Kishan‘s attacking 77, reached a fever pitch as the Indian vice-captain dismantled Pakistan’s top order within the very first over of the chase.
Hardik Pandya’s wicket-maiden as Sahibzada Farhan falls for a duck
Hardik produced a clinical opening over that has left Pakistan reeling in their pursuit of 176. In a tactical surprise, captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Hardik instead of Jasprit Bumrah to start the attack. Pandya rewarded the faith instantly with a spectacular wicket-maiden; after pinning Sahibzada Farhan with three probing dot balls, he induced a mistimed pull off a sharp, back-of-length delivery. The ball ballooned toward mid-on, where Rinku Singh remained ice-cool under pressure to complete the catch. This dismissal sent Farhan back for a four-ball duck and further cemented Hardik’s status as Pakistan’s primary nemesis, marking his 16th career T20I wicket against the arch-rivals.
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Hardik Pandya 🤝 Rinku Singh
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Jasprit Bumrah’s double strike: Pakistan crumble in the powerplay
The nightmare for Pakistan intensified in the second over as Bumrah reminded the world why he is the gold standard of fast bowling. Despite Saim Ayub greeting him with a fortuitous six on the first ball, Bumrah responded with a trademark, searing in-swinging yorker that trapped Ayub (6) plumb in front of the stumps.
Just two balls later, Bumrah struck again, inducing a leading edge from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha (4) that was comfortably swallowed by Pandya at mid-on. The carnage didn’t stop there, as Axar Patel was introduced in the 4th over and immediately cleaned up Babar Azam (5) with a delivery that skidded through the gates. By the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan’s chase was in total disarray at 38/4, with the R. Premadasa crowd witnessing one of the most clinical bowling displays in the tournament’s history.
