It is often said in cricket that the shorter the format, the narrower the gap between stronger and weaker teams. That sentiment proved true in dramatic fashion when Kuwait defeated India in a six-over contest, knocking them out of the Hong Kong Sixes tournament.
On Saturday morning at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Kuwait produced a stunning 27-run victory over a star-studded Indian side to advance to the quarter-finals. With this result, India dropped into the “Bowl” stage of the competition — reserved for teams eliminated from the main draw.
Batting first, Kuwait posted a competitive total of 106 for 5 in 6 overs. In reply, India were bundled out for 79 runs in 5.4 overs, despite featuring several former international players.
Kuwait’s innings began poorly as they slumped to 38 for 4, but captain Yasin Patel turned the tide with a blistering knock of 58 off just 14 balls, including 8 sixes and 2 fours. He was ably supported by Bilal Tahir, who struck 25 runs off 9 deliveries.
For India, Abhimanyu Mithun bowled well, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in 2 overs, but his efforts were not enough to stem Kuwait’s charge.
During the chase, India suffered an early collapse, losing three wickets for just 12 runs. Veteran opener Robin Uthappa was dismissed off the first ball, while captain Dinesh Karthik managed only 8 runs from 4 balls, and Stuart Binny could add just 2 runs from 2 deliveries.
Though Priyank Panchal (17 off 10), Abhimanyu Mithun (26 off 9), and Shahbaz Nadeem (19 off 8) tried to steady the innings, the target proved too steep.
With the ball, Yasin Patel again shone for Kuwait, claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs in his 2 overs, capping a match-winning all-round performance.
A summary of the Pool C standings is given below:
| Team | Matches Played | Points | Net Run Rate | Qualification Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2 | 2 | Superior | Qualified for Quarter-finals |
| Kuwait | 2 | 2 | Positive | Qualified for Quarter-finals |
| India | 2 | 2 | Lowest | Relegated to Bowl Stage |
All three teams — India, Pakistan, and Kuwait — finished with two points each, but India’s inferior net run rate sent them crashing into the Bowl stage.
The Bowl segment involves the four third-placed teams from each group, who compete to determine the ninth-best side of the tournament through a final playoff.
For India, the shock defeat has raised serious questions about their approach to the ultra-short format, while Kuwait’s historic triumph stands as one of the biggest upsets in Hong Kong Sixes history.