India booked their place in the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup after hammering rivals Pakistan with a 61-run victory in Colombo.

Having watched West Indies become the first side through to the knockout stages of the competition earlier on Sunday, India ensured progression from Group A with a sixth straight win over Pakistan in T20Is.

Salman Agha removed Abhishek Sharma for a four-ball duck after Pakistan opted to field but Ishan Kishan's 40-ball 77 steadied the ship for India before Saim Ayub broke through the opener's defences.

Ayub then claimed Tilak Varma, on 25, and Hardik Pandya for a golden duck with back-to-back deliveries in the 15th over before Usman Tariq had Suryakumar Yadav caught in the deep with 32 to his name.

Although Shivam Dube's 27 threatened to do some late damage, he was mindlessly run out in the final over, and Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed Axar Patel with the final ball to restrict India to 175-7.

But Sahibzada Farhan was caught on nought in Hardik's first over, before Jasprit Bumrah pinned Ayub in front for six and Agha (four) skied the Indian quick to mid-on to leave Pakistan 13-3 from 12 balls.

An ugly Babar Azam hack saw him dismissed for five by Axar Patel, who then had Usman Khan stumped after his entertaining 34-ball 44 to effectively end any Pakistan hopes.

Varun Chakravarthy then chipped in with two wickets in two balls, including Abrar Ahmed for a golden duck, as Pakistan were brushed aside, leaving them needing to beat Namibia on Wednesday to progress.

India extend their unbeaten #T20WorldCup 2026 run with a clinical win in Colombo

: https://t.co/TSLw2HHG3q pic.twitter.com/4Iet9vhH6N

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 15, 2026

Data Debrief: More India pain for Pakistan

Having scored 61 in the routine win over Namibia last time out, Kishan's impressive knock here saw him post consecutive T20I half-centuries for the first time since November 2023 (both against Australia).

However, Ayub – one of six Pakistan spinners to share 18 overs – seemed to have dragged Agha's side back into the contest with figures of 3-25, his best bowling return in any international format.

But their chase never got going, with Hardik taking the first wicket of Farhan and the last by bowling Tariq for a duck as the India all-rounder made it nine straight T20I innings with dismissals against Pakistan.

Although Pakistan have lost their last six T20Is against India, their longest losing run against them in the history of the white-ball format, they control their own fate heading into the final game.