Ishan Kishan’s 77 overtakes coach Gambhir in Ind-Pak T20 highest scores, just misses Kohli’s record
In a thrilling ICC T20 World Cup 2026 encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, India’s opening batter Ishan Kishan justified the selectors’ decision to pick him over Shubman Gill. Facing Pakistan in a highly charged clash, the dynamic left-hander delivered a scintillating 77, reshaping the list of highest individual scores in India-Pakistan T20 clashes.
Kishan’s knock propelled him past Gautam Gambhir, the current India Head Coach, whose memorable 75 had steered India to victory in the 2007 World T20 final. Kishan’s aggressive stroke play in Colombo’s humid conditions pushed Gambhir to fifth place on the all-time list of top T20 performances between the two sides.
Despite dismantling Pakistan’s pace attack with ease, Kishan narrowly missed breaking the record held by Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 82 in the 2022 Melbourne Cricket Ground thriller—a knock widely regarded as one of the greatest in T20 history.
Top individual scores in India-Pakistan T20Is
- 82* Virat Kohli – Melbourne 2022
- 79* Mohammad Rizwan – Dubai 2021
- 78* Virat Kohli – Colombo 2012
- 77 Ishan Kishan – Colombo 2026
- 75 Gautam Gambhir – Johannesburg 2007
Kishan appeared on track to surpass the 80-run mark before Saim Ayub claimed his wicket, also just falling short of Kohli’s 78* from 2012 in Colombo, ultimately slotting him fourth on the list.
While Kishan made a high-quality 77 off 40 balls on a tricky pitch to guide India to 175 for seven in their T20 World Cup clash, the other Indian batters struggled to pierce the Pakistan spinners for boundaries. Agha relied on pace for only two overs during the innings.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav made 32 off 27 balls. Saim Ayub was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, ending with three wickets for 25 runs in four overs.
Brief scores
India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77; Saim Ayub 3/25).
(With inputs from PTI)