NEW DELHI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson delivered a telling and forceful verdict after his team’s crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo, admitting that a brave innings had effectively decided the contest long before the chase collapsed. Hesson said Kishan’s aggressive approach and rare form proved the decisive difference in the main clash, acknowledging that the brilliance of the first match had dismantled Pakistan’s plans on a challenging surface.
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“I think he’s fearless. He’s capable of scoring on both sides of the field. So he’s not just committed to the leg side. We know he’s incredibly strong there, but he can reverse. So if you have spin, especially on the power play, it can be a challenge,” Hesson said after the match.
Kishan’s impressive 77 off 40 balls propelled India to 175 for seven, but more importantly he broke the backbone of Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy on a slow Premadasa Stadium pitch. He attacked the slower bowlers with authority, scoring 66 runs off 37 deliveries against spin and forcing the Pakistan bowlers out of their comfort zone.
Hesson admitted that the pressure created by Kishan forced his players to lose their strengths and ultimately changed the course of the match. He noted that apart from Kishan and a brief contribution from Shivam Dube, scoring was difficult, underlining how exceptional the knock was. “That was certainly the highlight of the whole match, really. The way Kishan played took the game away from us,” Hesson said.
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Pakistan’s problems deepened in the chase as they collapsed for just 114 and never recovered after the first few wickets. The heavy defeat pushed them to third place in Group A, so their qualification hopes depended on beating Namibia in their final league match.
Hesson admitted that the defeat had affected the team emotionally, given the magnitude of the match. He said the locker room was deeply disappointed because the players understood what the game meant. “We know it’s a big event: Pakistan against India. We’ve won five games in a row, we’re confident, but today they beat us,” he said.
Despite the setback, Hesson urged his players to maintain composure and respond positively. He emphasized that big tournaments often test teams under pressure and Pakistan’s challenge now was to trust their decision-making and come back stronger. He said the key question was how players reacted when under pressure, whether they stuck to their core principles or strayed from them. According to him, improving that response will be crucial in the coming games.