Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium witnessed a spectacle on Sunday as Ishan Kishan unleashed fury on Pakistan’s bowlers in the T20 World Cup 2026. The 23-year-old prodigy scripted a historic moment by slamming the fastest half-century by an Indian against Pakistan in the tournament—off a mere 27 deliveries. This feat eclipsed Iftikhar Ahmed’s 32-ball effort from 2022, cementing Kishan’s name in cricket lore.
Building on his blistering start, Kishan compiled a match-defining 77 from 40 balls, adorned with 10 boundaries and 3 towering sixes. His innings ranks him fourth on the elite list of top individual scores in bilateral T20s between the arch-rivals. Virat Kohli dominates with 82* (2022) and 78* (2012), while Mohammad Rizwan’s 79* (2021) completes the podium.
Delving into the annals, the T20 WC fastest fifties vs Pakistan include Misbah-ul-Haq (33 balls, 2017), Kohli (34, 2016), and Gambhir (38, 2007). In all India-Pak T20s, Hafeez’s 23-ball blitz (2012) leads, with Abhishek (24, 2025) and now Kishan (27) following suit. Yuvraj Singh’s 29-ball fifty from 2012 also finds mention.
With back-to-back wins, India leads Group A at +3.050 NRR, while Pakistan sits second at +0.932. Kishan’s masterclass, dubbed ‘Operation White Ball,’ has shifted momentum firmly in India’s favor, promising more fireworks in this high-stakes showdown.