Suryakumar Yadav said India's thumping T20 World Cup win over Pakistan on Sunday was a gift for the entire nation.

His side coasted to a 61-run victory over their fierce rivals in Colombo, booking their spot in the Super 8s with a game to spare in Group A.

India have now won their last six T20Is against Pakistan, their longest winning run against them in the history of the format, much to the delight of Suryakumar.

"This is for India. We played the same brand of cricket we wanted to play," he said after a convincing performance sealed India's third win in as many games. 

"It was great to see everyone contributing. We think about [how to improve] tomorrow. We go back, have some good time together as a team and think about that when we reach Ahmedabad."

Ishan Kishan's 77 steadied the ship after fellow opener Abhishek Sharma fell to Salman Agha for a four-ball duck in the first over.

Kishan faced just 40 balls in his fine knock as he posted back-to-back half-centuries in this format for the first time since November 2023, when he scored two 50s against Australia.

"The way Ishan batted, he batted the same way that he has been batting in the last few games and in domestic cricket," the India captain added. 

"Ishan thought outside of the box. At 0-1, someone needed to take responsibility, and he did that amazingly. There was a bit of a slump, but that is the beauty of T20 cricket."

A special knock to guide a big victory

Ishan Kishan wins the Player of the Match award in Colombo

Scorecard https://t.co/IgYYH0TeR9 #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue pic.twitter.com/z0EONAxFoq

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2026

Indeed, India's 175-7 looked somewhat under-par after a late collapse, but Hardik Pandya's first-over wicket and a pair of dismissals from Jasprit Bumrah in the following over stunted Pakistan's response before it ever truly got going.

"Hardik took the new ball, taking charge. Bumrah then showed why he is the best in the world," Suryakumar concluded.

Pakistan's defeat saw them fall to third in their pool, behind the United States, who are ahead on net run rate after playing all four of their group games already.

A win against Namibia on Wednesday would ensure Pakistan's progression to the knockout stages, and Agha hopes that opportunity can provide his side with a new lease of life.

"We need to win that and qualify. Then it is a new tournament," the Pakistan captain said, looking ahead to Namibia.