'Dhurandhar' Ishan Kishan leaves Tendulkar spellbound; Sehwag, Kaif roast Pakistan's '17th century approach'

Ishan Kishan's ruthless 77 on the tacky R Premadasa surface ensured India sealed their place in the Super Eight stage with a group game still to spare.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2026, 11:53:23 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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India legends could not stop raving about Ishan Kishan’s ‘Dhurandhar’ knock that set up the team’s commanding 61-run win over Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday. The opener’s ruthless 77 on the tacky R Premadasa surface ensured India sealed their place in the Super Eight stage with a group game still to spare.

Ishan Kishan celebrates his half century during an T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and Pakistan in Colombo (PTI)

Former India batter Sachin Tendulkar was in awe of Ishan, pointing out that India had effectively sealed the contest in the powerplay itself. Despite losing Abhishek Sharma in the first over, courtesy of a masterstroke from Pakistan captain Salman Agha, Ishan took charge and singlehandedly inflicted the damage. He smashed 42 off 25 balls inside the first six overs as India raced to 42 for 1, setting the tone for the innings.

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“The powerplay was where India took the game away from them. Ishan Kishan in the first innings, and the clinical bowling we saw in the second innings, made all the difference. We were always in the driver’s seat. India rocked it tonight,” Tendulkar wrote on X.

Virender Sehwag also heaped praise on Ishan for his match-defining performance, while taking a swipe at Pakistan’s outdated approach to the format.

Posting on X, Sehwag wrote: “Ishan Kishan played like a real Dhurandhar. Among all minnows, Pakistan looked the easiest to beat for Bharat because of their 17th century approach to T20 cricket, and they have taken a proper beating as usual. Full kambal kuttai.”

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif also roasted Pakistan, calling the one in 1-8 in the head-to-head tie against India a "fluke." Pakistan's only win against India in nine T20 World Cup meetings came in the 2021 edition in a group-stage match.

“Now I believe that the one Pakistan win in the 1-8 scoreline against India was also a fluke. Honestly,” he posted.

Meanwhile, two-time World Cup-winner Yuvraj Singh added: “Big games demand big character and the boys showed exactly that tonight! Calm heads and the hunger to finish strong Proud of the way we delivered as a unit! Onward and upward.”

India will play their final Group A game against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad later this week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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