The loudest noise after India beat Pakistan wasn’t just from the stands in Colombo it was from social media. In a match where runs were hard to come by, Ishan Kishan’s counter-attacking 77 became the moment that flipped the script, sparking praise not only in India but also across Pakistan. The chatter has only grown since the T20 World Cup 2026 clash ended, with fans and former players calling it a “proper comeback” innings.
The India Pakistan contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium was the tournament’s 27th match. India lost the toss and batted first, and the pressure arrived immediately when Abhishek Sharma fell in the very first over. That early blow could have dragged India into a crawl on a demanding surface but Kishan chose the opposite route, launching a quick counter-attack to push the game away from Pakistan’s grip.
The turning point, as highlighted in a report, came when Kishan took on Shaheen Afridi’s over and collected 15 runs, instantly shifting momentum. On a pitch described as difficult, he didn’t allow Pakistan’s bowlers to settle, bringing up his half-century in just 27 balls and then accelerating further. He finished with 77 off 40 deliveries, packed with 10 fours and three sixes an innings that stood out sharply because no other batter managed a fifty on the night.
Pakistan’s coach Mike Hesson openly credited Kishan for taking the match away, calling his knock the one truly “different and special” effort in the game, especially with others failing to score faster than run-a-ball. Online, accounts like Gully Point argued the innings showed why big-match experience matter calling that strike rate on this pitch “pure gold.” The reactions weren’t limited to fan pages either; even Netflix India joined the wave with a post, while several users pointed out that Kishan “never played the victim card” and simply worked his way back.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar suggested India could have been in trouble without Kishan’s runs, while captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the way he handled responsibility. From Pakistan, journalist Shehzar Iqbal labelled it a remarkable comeback, and voices like Irfan Pathan and Shoaib Akhtar also described the knock as decisive. Kishan, for his part, said the wicket wasn’t easybut backing his strengths and playing with confidence mattered most. In a rivalry where margins feel microscopic, this time one batter made them look huge and that’s exactly why this comeback is dominating timelines.
