Pakistan was humiliated by India in a one-sided win by 61 runs in Colombo.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has shared his thoughts on the recent India v Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 game that was played on February 15 at the RPS ground in Colombo. India registered a one-sided game by 61 runs and qualified for the Super 8s round.
India posted 175/7 in 20 overs thanks to Ishan Kishan’s 77 and then gave a clinical bowling performance, bowling out Pakistan for 114 runs. This was India’s eighth win in the T20 World Cups against Pakistan.
There was a considerable difference between the two teams, with India dominating in all three departments: batting, bowling, and fielding. At no point did the game appear fairly matched, illustrating how the rivalry has become increasingly one-sided in recent years, with India comfortably in charge whenever the two teams play.
Senior players like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi were criticized brutally by the experts and fans alike for their poor performance in this crucial game against India.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes that the gap between India and Pakistan has grown dramatically in recent years. Reflecting on Pakistan's T20 woes, he questioned the team's direction and hinted at a transition period, with younger players perhaps leading the way.
"I think now, there is a distinct gap between the two teams. India has been ahead for a long time now, and there is a significant gap. I don't know what Pakistan does. If you look through their list, there might be a few of their more senior players who have been good, but in regard to T20 cricket, this might be their final hurrah. They might look at the PSL and some young talent coming through there," he said on the 'Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.'
He also stated that India's victory came as no surprise, citing the off-field controversy surrounding Pakistan's participation as an additional distraction. Finally, he felt the outcome showed the significant difference between the two teams in the T20 format.
"I expected India to win. It has been a bit of a circus in regard to Pakistan playing the tournament but not playing the India game. So, from a player's perspective, it doesn't help, but they were outperformed. India is a much better team than Pakistan in this format and has been for a while now," he said.
India will next face the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad in their last Group A game, while Pakistan will face Namibia in Colombo on the same day in a must-win game.