The intensity and excitement of the cricket rivalry between Pakistan and India is as intense and exciting as any in world sport. India vs Pakistan rivalry is over 70 years and (hardly) a dull game. Each of the teams have yielded iconic players, precious matches, and moments that span over ever race and religion throughout the world. The cricket India and Pakistan rivalry has had it all, and I can think of no better rivaly in all sport.
The beginnings of the cricket rivalry
The rivalry between the two nations started in 1952 when they first played one another at Test level. Since then, the cricket rivalry has intensified over the years where both teams have consistently produced high-quality cricket and thrilling matches. The heightened barbaiity of the India and Pakistan cricket rivalry is exacerbated by the politically- complicated relations between the two nations, culture, history, and sport.
Most Important Matches
Some matches have a special place in the Indo-Pak cricket rivalry and have created memories for cricket fans all over the world. Here are some of the important matches:
– 1986 Austral-Asia Cup Final- Regarded as the greatest ODI match of all time, Javed Miandad hit a last-ball six off Chetan Sharma to win the match for Pakistan, a major turning point in the rivalry.
– 1996 World Cup Quarterfinal- India vs Pakistan occurred during the knockout quarterfinal stage of the 1996 World Cup played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India won the match by 39 runs, although it was the crowd protest and riot by the Pakistani fans post-match that grabbed all the extra attention.
– 2007 T20 World Cup Final- India and Pakistan met in the inaugural T20 World Cup Final, with India winning by 5 runs in a thrilling finish. When we saw Misbah-Ul- Haq playing the most disastrous shot he could ever imagine in his career which made Pakistan loose the Inaugural T-20 world cup final.
– 2011 World Cup Semi-final- India and Pakistan met in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup held at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. India won by 29 runs, which many people regard as the highlight of the rivalry as these matches don’t have a knockout format!
2017 Champions Trophy Final: Pakistan defeated India in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy (held in England, Wales) by 180 runs. This was a major win for Pakistan and was considered to be a turning point in the rivalry.
Toughest Matches
Some games have stood out between India and Pakistan based on their fervour, drama and nail-biting finishes – here are some of the toughest matches:
– 1999 Test Match: India vs. Pakistan played a Test match in Kolkata, described as controversial and filled with collective drama. The match ended in a draw, however it was an important facet in the rivalry.
2004 Test Match: Pakistan defeated India in a Test match in Multan, and the match was also characterized by some spectacular performances from players of the Pakistan team.
– 2012 Asia Cup: India and Pakistan faced each other in the Asia Cup and the match turned out to be a very exciting match. Pakistan won the match by 1 wicket, and it was another big win for them.
-2022 T-20 World Cup: How can anyone forget the greatest of all time innings by the Goat, The King Virat Kohli, where he along with Hardik Pandya pulled off a stunner of an innings scoring 82 off 53 not out and won the match against Pakistan on the last ball of the game.
Players Who Have Given The Rivalry Defined Meaning
Certain players have greatly defined the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry. Here are some of the main players:
– Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram: These two players will go down as two of the greatest cricketers of all time, and their rivalry was always fierce and exciting.
–Sunil Gavaskar and Javed Miandad: both were two of the most recognizable players in the intense India-Pakistan cricket rivalry over the decade of the 1980s and their memorable battles on the field were always memorable.
–Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar: The battles between Sehwag and Akhtar were intense and closely watched. Sehwag known for his fearless batting, often took on Akhtar’s fiery pace, while akhtar being one of the fastest in the world, relished the challenge of trying to dismiss Sehwag.
– Virat Kohli and Babar Azam: these two players are the current best batsmen in the world, and their rivalry during matches is always intense and captivating.
The Payoff:
The ICC earns a serious amount of money when India and Pakistan play each other in a World Cup or ICC tournament. It is estimated that the ICC generates $50-100 million dollars per an India-Pakistan match in World Cup or ICC, from viewership to sponsorship deals to advertising revenue.
For example, in India alone, the 2019 ICC World Cup match between India and Pakistan drew more than 273 million viewers, making it one of the most watched matches in cricket history. The ICC expected to receive $20-30 million in advertising revenue from the match.
The Future of the Rivalry
Both sides, for the foreseeable future, face indefinite periods of quality cricket and exciting fixtures named after their countries, starting with an array and revisit of intense hatred be it extreme or more of a frenetic interstate fixture, there will always be that surround the north of the great Sub-Continent of Asia. The multifaceted rivalry will always have energy and excitement because much of the rawness and nastiness comes from the complexity of a relationship neither country is prepared to move on from.
To conclude
The India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry can be described as multi-dimensional. It has opened the door for fans to see fascination, intrigue, enjoyment and in many examples, some of the greatest matches, players and moments in the game. Its provided great joy and elation in the form of great wins and personally agonising defeats. In short, there is no other more entertaining and different spectacle. What will continue to entertain and provide fascination for fans across the globe are the stories and events leading to some of these encounters.
You can also read our blog on the rivalry between India and Pakistan in terms of IPL & PSL.