From Baloch Celebrations To Shoaib Akhtar’s Outburst: Reactions Pour In After India Thrash Pakistan By 61 Runs

• India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo.
• Celebrations and reactions poured in from Baloch groups, Afghanistan fans and Indian public figures.
• Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board after the defeat.

India's emphatic 61-run victory over Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 triggered widespread celebrations and reactions across regions and social media.

The high-voltage group-stage match at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium quickly became a talking point beyond cricket, with fans, public figures and former players sharing strong reactions.

Celebrations and online reactions

India's win was celebrated by many supporters across different regions. Social media videos and posts showed fans cheering the result, while reactions also came in from Afghanistan and Baloch groups online following the dominant performance by Team India.

Key reactions after India's win:

Virender Sehwag on X: Praised Ishan Kishan's innings and said India dominated the contest.

Devendra Fadnavis on X: Congratulated Team India for a "sensational victory" and complete performance.

Irfan Pathan: Shared a celebratory post referencing the match and asking fans about their Sunday.

Videos of security personnel and fans cheering ahead of the match also circulated widely online.

Shoaib Akhtar slams PCB

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board and team management after the defeat. Speaking in a televised interaction, Akhtar questioned the leadership and selection decisions, saying continued backing of underperforming senior players has hurt the team.

He also raised concerns about administrative decisions and the direction of Pakistan cricket, suggesting that poor management has contributed to repeated losses in high-pressure matches.

Pressure on Pakistan team

Pakistan's defeat has intensified scrutiny on the team's performance and the board's functioning. Critics and former players have called for accountability and structural changes as Pakistan continues to struggle in major matches against India.

India's dominant performance, meanwhile, has boosted confidence within the squad as the tournament progresses, with fans celebrating one of the team's most comprehensive wins over their arch-rivals in recent years.