IND vs PAK: Ishan Kishan eclipses Yuvraj Singh’s record with explosive knock in Colombo

India were jolted early as Abhishek Sharma registered his second straight duck at the T20 World Cup, but Ishan Kishan steadied the innings with a breathtaking counterattack, producing one of the fastest half-centuries in India–Pakistan T20I history.

Kishan raced to his fifty in just 27 balls, getting there with a boundary off Abrar Ahmed in the seventh over. The knock is now the third-fastest half-century in India–Pakistan T20 internationals, moving past Yuvraj Singh’s 29-ball effort in 2012.

Fastest fifties in India–Pakistan T20Is (by balls faced)
23 – Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmedabad, 2012
24 – Abhishek Sharma, Dubai, 2025
27 – Ishan Kishan, Colombo (RPS), 2026
29 – Yuvraj Singh, Ahmedabad, 2012

India finished the powerplay at 52 for 1 after losing Abhishek in the opening over. Returning after missing the Namibia clash due to illness, Abhishek was caught at mid-on by Shaheen Shah Afridi off the bowling of Salman Ali Agha.

Kishan ensured there was no further slide. Despite Pakistan deploying five overs of spin during the powerplay — only the 13th time that much spin has been used in a T20 World Cup powerplay — he kept the scoreboard moving with calculated aggression.

The left-hander went on to score 77 off 40 balls, an innings that proved vital on a surface offering assistance to the spinners.

At the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, continuing the approach followed since last year’s Asia Cup in Dubai.