Pakistan vs India: Key Facts about Historic Rivalry between Asian Cricket Giants

Hype is real ahead of Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup match, with tens of millions looking for action-packed game between Asian cricket giants.

As the cricket rivalry between two sides remains intense amid political tensions. Check some of facts about their history.

Pakistan vs India First Match

The two sides have been playing Test games since 1952, while the first T20 match between Pakistan and India took place in December 2006, during the group stage of the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa.

World Cup Clashes

Pakistan and India have faced each other several times in ICC Cricket World Cup matches, with India holding an advantage in head-to-head encounters.

Champions Trophy

Pakistan defeated India in the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy to win the title.

T20 World Cup

India and Pakistan have faced each other multiple times in the ICC T20 World Cup, with matches often being high-pressure encounters, and Men in Blue are having advantage of winning most games.

Record Breakers

Several players from both sides have achieved remarkable feats in matches against each other, adding to the lore of this rivalry.

In T20 Internationals, India dominated Pakistan, winning 7 out of the 8 matches played between the two teams. Some key records include India’s highest total of 192/5, Pakistan’s lowest total of 83, and Shoaib Malik’s highest individual score of 78. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the best bowling figures with 5/24, while Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer with 299 runs. The closest match was the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup final, which India won by 5 runs, and India’s biggest victory (by runs) was by 11 runs in 2012.

Massive TV ratings

Matches between Pakistan and India attract huge television audiences and are among the most-watched cricket matches globally.

Tensions and Spirit

While the rivalry is intense, players and fans from both sides have also shown sportsmanship and respect for each other on many occasions.

Cultural Impact

The rivalry goes beyond cricket, influencing cultural exchanges and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

ODI History

Their first One Day International (ODI) encounter was in the 1978 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which India won by 4 wickets.

Bilateral Series

Due to political tensions, bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India have been rare in recent years, with most matches occurring in ICC events or Asia Cup.