India and Pakistan’s highly anticipated clash in the 2023 World Cup is timely. Both sides have won their first two matches and are in a good position to reach the semi-finals.
However, after their encounter in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14, one team will overtake the other. Not only will a win further solidify their team’s place in the top four, but it will also dishearten their arch-rivals.
In previous World Cup matches, the surrounding countries have had some memorable fights. They have met 14 times in ODI and T20 World Cups combined, with India holding the advantage in both forms.
India has a perfect record of seven victories against Pakistan in the 50-over format. As far as the T20 version of the game is concerned, India has won five times, Pakistan has won a single match, and one match was tied. In 2007, India claimed the victory after a bowl-out.
Now, let’s take a look at the three most exciting India-Pakistan matches in both past ODI and T20 World Cup matches.
3. India beat Pakistan by 39 runs in Bengaluru (1996 ODI World Cup Quarterfinal)
India played against Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup knockout match in the 1996 edition. It was also only the second time the countries had met in the tournament that happens every four years, with the Indian cricket team winning the 1992 clash in Sydney.
Navjot Singh Sidhu hit a stunning 93 off 115 to give the hosts a strong start. Ajay Jadeja’s late cameo (45 off 25) powered his team to 287/8. Mushtaq Ahmed’s 2 for 56 made him the Pakistani bowler of choice.
Pakistan raced to 84/0 in only 10 overs, with Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar in blazing form. Sohail got into a verbal spat with spinner Venkatesh Prasad, who ratted Sohail’s middle stump and handed him an ugly send-off.
Locals Anil Kumble and Prasad grabbed control, each taking three wickets, as Pakistan’s batting order failed to capitalize on the opening partnership. The pursuing team finally fell 39 runs short and was knocked out of the competition.
2. India beat Pakistan by 5 runs in Johannesburg (2007 T20 World Cup Final)
The arch-rivals had previously met in the first T20 World Cup before meeting again in the showpiece final in Johannesburg. After the match finished in a stalemate, India won the Group D encounter by a bowl-out.
Gautam Gambhir led the MS Dhoni-led team with 75 runs off 54 balls. Rohit Sharma, 20, produced a stunning 30* off only 16 balls to propel the scoreboard to a competitive total of 157. Umar Gul took important wickets of Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni.
RP Singh began his tenure by dismissing Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal in his first two overs. Imran Nazir hit 33 off 14 deliveries before getting caught in the sixth over. Misbah-ul-Haq scored 43 runs off 38 balls. However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals at the opposite end.
Ul-Haq attempted to scoop Joginder Sharma with one wicket in hand and six to win off four balls. He mistimed the shot, though, and Sreesanth made the grab. India were awarded champions of the inaugural T20 World Cup.
1. India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in Centurion (2003 ODI World Cup Pool A match)
This is often regarded as the finest World Cup encounter ever played between the two neighboring arch-rivals. Saeed Anwar hit a brilliant century for Pakistan before being caught by Ashish Nehra in the 41st over.
The Men in Green scored 273/7 thanks to useful contributions from the late-middle order. Zaheer Khan’s 2/46 made him the bowling side’s outstanding performance, as he removed Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan at crucial points in the game.
Sachin Tendulkar batted like a champ, easily dispatching the tough combination of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis. He scored 98 runs off just 75 balls, including 12 boundaries.
Tendulkar’s hit was perhaps greater than most hundreds, despite falling short of the three-figure barrier. Mohammad Kaif, Rahul Dravid, and Yuvraj Singh all batted well to help the Men in Blue reach their target with 4.2 overs to spare.
