India vs Pakistan Cricket Rivalry: Cricket's Greatest Match-Up
India vs Pakistan is cricket's most-watched rivalry. Every match draws hundreds of millions of viewers. The political backdrop, the passion, and the quality of play make India-Pakistan the contest that defines cricket's global reach.
More Than Sport
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is cricket's most emotionally charged fixture. The two countries share a complex political history since Partition in 1947, and cricket has become one of the primary arenas where national pride finds expression. A match between the two generates viewership in the hundreds of millions globally — higher than most events outside the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. The stakes of an India-Pakistan match, regardless of the tournament it's in, always feel existential to both sets of supporters.
History of Contests
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral Test cricket since 2007 due to political tensions, meaning all India-Pakistan matches now occur at ICC events. Their most famous bilateral series are the 1978-79 and 1982-83 series in Pakistan, plus the 1999 and 2004-05 tours that carried enormous goodwill before relations deteriorated. In ICC events, the fixture always draws maximum attention — India leads Pakistan in World Cup head-to-head records, having never lost a World Cup match against Pakistan in ODIs.
Famous Moments
Javed Miandad's last-ball six in Sharjah (1986) against India remains Pakistan's most celebrated cricket moment. India's victories in the 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2011 World Cup group stages are equally celebrated in India. The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final — Pakistan defeating India by 180 runs — was Pakistan's most overwhelming World Cup-format victory against India. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan defeated India for the first time in a World Cup match, winning by 10 wickets.
The 2021 T20 World Cup Turning Point
Pakistan's 10-wicket victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup group stage — the first time Pakistan had beaten India in a World Cup match — was a watershed moment. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the first over; Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan chased the target without losing a wicket. The victory ended a 29-year World Cup losing streak for Pakistan against India and announced a new generation of Pakistani cricket talent to the world.
Frequently asked questions
Has Pakistan ever beaten India in a World Cup?
Yes — Pakistan defeated India for the first time in a Cricket World Cup at the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Dubai, winning by 10 wickets. Shaheen Afridi took two wickets in the first over; Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan chased the target unbeaten. Before this, India had won all previous World Cup meetings — in ODIs, Pakistan have never beaten India in a World Cup (they are 0-7 in ODI World Cup meetings).
Why don't India and Pakistan play bilateral Test cricket?
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral Test cricket since 2007 due to political tensions between the two countries, which escalated following various geopolitical events including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Cricket boards have periodically discussed bilateral series but government-level relations have prevented them. All India-Pakistan cricket now takes place within ICC events (World Cups, Champions Trophy) where both teams must participate regardless of political relations.