Rahul Tripathi hit seven sixes in 14 balls, and India still lost to England in the Hong Kong Sixes Bowl
Krunal Pandya’s side lost to Pakistan, the UAE and then England by three runs, and will play Bangladesh for 11th place on Sunday.
Oct 31, 2026
Rahul Tripathi hit seven sixes in 14 balls on Saturday, and India still lost. England made 124 for 2 in their six overs in the Bowl semi-final at Mission Road Ground, India got to 121, and the three-run defeat means Krunal Pandya’s side will play Bangladesh on Sunday for 11th place at the Hong Kong Sixes.
It was India’s third defeat in two days. They lost both Group C games, to Pakistan and the UAE, finished bottom of the group without a point and dropped into the Bowl, the competition for the four third-placed sides. Twelve teams entered.
Five sixes in Krunal’s first over
The opener against Pakistan on Friday set the tone. Pakistan put India in, and Shashank Singh made 40 off 11 balls to get them to 88 for 5. Then Krunal opened the bowling. Khawaja Nafay took a single off the first ball, and Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi hit the next five for six. The over went for 31.
Nafay finished with 41 off 12 and Pakistan were home by four wickets in 3.5 overs. The two captains had not shaken hands at the toss.
UAE needed 26 balls
Saturday morning against the UAE was worse. India made 94 for 6, and most of that came late: T Natarajan, a bowler by trade, hit 38 off 14 balls with four sixes. Zahid Ali took three wickets.
The UAE chased it without losing a wicket. Captain Khalid Shah made 52 not out off 14 balls with six sixes, Ansh Tandon 39 not out off 12, and it was over in 4.2 overs. The UAE had already beaten Pakistan by one wicket, so they won the group and went into the Cup semi-finals.
Three runs short against England
England’s Martin Andersson hit 51 off 13 balls in the Bowl semi-final, and Ed Barnard added 35 not out off 14. Tripathi kept India in it almost on his own with 56 off 14, seven sixes and two fours, but they ended three runs short.
Krunal was not even meant to be captain. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named to lead the team and was then recalled to India’s squad for the New Zealand tour, so Krunal took over and Gujarat Titans seamer Kulwant Khejroliya came in. Shashank, Tripathi, Natarajan, Nitish Rana and Rahul Tewatia made up the seven.
India have won the Hong Kong Sixes once, in 2005, when Robin Singh’s side beat West Indies in the final. On this evidence a second title is a long way off. In a six-over game, a team needs bowlers who can survive an over against hitters like Afridi and Shah, and India did not have one this week. Sunday’s game against Bangladesh decides whether they go home 11th or 12th.