Pakistan beat India by four wickets in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 on Friday, turning a much talked about Group C clash at Mong Kok into a one-sided sprint. India managed only 88 for five in their six overs, and Pakistan chased the target down in under four overs, with captain Abbas Afridi setting the tone in brutal fashion in the very first over.
The match had drawn attention even before the first ball. At the toss, India captain Krunal Pandya and Afridi did not exchange the customary handshake, a moment that quickly went viral on social media and added another layer to a rivalry that rarely needs extra spice. Once play began, though, the talking point became Pakistan’s batting, not the toss.
Afridi’s first over changes the game
Pakistan’s chase started with a statement. Afridi smashed five sixes in the opening over against his opposite number, Krunal Pandya, and suddenly a target of 89 looked small. Pakistan raced to 59 within the first two overs, and from there the result was never really in doubt. Khawaja Nafay then guided the side home, as Pakistan completed the win with overs to spare.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the defending champions. Earlier on Friday, Pakistan had lost their opening match by one wicket to the United Arab Emirates, a result that left them on the brink of elimination from the group. A defeat against India would have ended their tournament. Instead, they produced their most explosive batting of the day when they needed it most.
Shashank’s lone fight for India
India’s innings told a very different story. Batting first, the side lost wickets in a heap and never found a rhythm. Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, captain Krunal Pandya and Rahul Tewatia all struggled to get going, and India were left staring at a below-par total.
The exception was Shashank Singh. The batter smashed 40 off just 11 balls, a knock full of clean hitting that at least gave India something to defend. Without his late burst, India’s total would have been far worse. As it was, 88 for five was the lowest score of the day in the tournament, and against a Pakistan side in full flow, it was never going to be enough.
Why Krunal is leading India
Krunal is captaining India at the Hong Kong Sixes because Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the original choice, received a call-up for India’s tour of New Zealand. The squad also features Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, T Natarajan and Kulwant Khejroliya. It is a side packed with domestic T20 experience, but on Friday the format exposed them: in a six-over game, one bad over with the bat or ball can decide everything, and India had both.
The Hong Kong Sixes is built for exactly this kind of chaos. Each team generally bats for six overs, twelve teams are competing across three days, and there is almost no time to recover from a slow start. Pakistan, placed in Group C alongside India and the UAE, understood the assignment better on the day.
What the result means for the group
The win keeps Pakistan alive in the tournament and puts pressure back on the group standings. The winners of each group proceed to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok on November 1. For India, the defeat is a wake-up call rather than a knockout blow, but the margin of it will sting. Losing by four wickets with overs to spare, after posting the day’s lowest total, is not the start Krunal’s side wanted.
There is also the wider context. The no-handshake moment at the toss continues a trend seen in recent India-Pakistan encounters, most prominently during the 2025 Asia Cup, when India’s team avoided customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts. On Friday, that subplot was quickly overtaken by the cricket itself, and by one over in particular.
For now, the story of the day belongs to Afridi. Five sixes in an over, against the opposing captain, in an India-Pakistan game, is the kind of passage that defines a short tournament. Pakistan will hope it sparks a run to the final. India will hope Friday was just one bad day in a format that forgives nobody.
FAQs
What was the score in India vs Pakistan at Hong Kong Sixes 2026?
India scored 88 for five in six overs. Pakistan chased down 89, winning by four wickets in under four overs.
Who was India’s top scorer against Pakistan?
Shashank Singh top scored with 40 off just 11 balls, the only bright spot in India’s innings.
What happened in the first over of Pakistan’s chase?
Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi hit five sixes in the opening over against India captain Krunal Pandya, taking Pakistan to a flying start.
Why did Krunal Pandya not shake hands with Abbas Afridi?
The two captains did not exchange a handshake at the toss, a moment that went viral and continues the recent no-handshake trend in India-Pakistan matches.
When is the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 final?
The final is scheduled for November 1 at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.
India will now look to regroup quickly. In a three-day tournament, there is no time to dwell on one defeat, but there is also no hiding from it.
