Colombo, February 15 Opener Ishan Kishan's explosive 77 off 40 balls provided India with the perfect start, but spinner Saim Ayub dismissed three batsmen, bringing India back, leaving the defending champions at 127 for 4 at the end of the 15th over in their T20 World Cup match against arch-rivals Pakistan here on Sunday.
Battling cramps, Kishan smashed 10 fours and three sixes, putting pressure on the Pakistan bowlers and compensating for the early loss of charismatic opener Abhishek Sharma (0), putting India in a strong position.
Once Kishan was dismissed, bowled by Saim Ayub off the fourth ball of the ninth over, Tilak Varma (25 runs off 24 balls), who had played second fiddle until then, took over in partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav (22 not out).
Varma and Suryakumar put together a 38-run stand for the third wicket before the former was dismissed lbw by Saim Ayub, marking the Pakistani spinner's third wicket of the innings.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya then departed for a duck, leaving India in a difficult position, with Shivam Dube up next.
