India and Pakistan, cricket's fiercest rivals, are set to clash for the 13th time in T20 cricket at the Twenty20 World Cup in New York on Sunday. Political tensions mean the two teams only meet in international tournaments, their last encounter being at the 2022
T20 World Cup
in Melbourne, where India emerged victorious.
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With India leading the head-to-head T20 tally with nine wins to Pakistan's three, the upcoming match promises high drama and intense competition.
Here’s a look back at five of their most memorable T20 encounters:
2007: T20 World Cup Group Match
The first T20 encounter between India and Pakistan in Durban ended dramatically in a tie, leading to a bowl-out. Pakistan, having elected to field, restricted India to 141/9. With scores level at the end of Pakistan’s reply, India skipper MS Dhoni used non-specialists for the bowl-out, a decision that paid off as
Virender Sehwag
, Robin Uthappa, and Harbhajan Singh all hit the stumps, while Pakistan’s bowlers missed. It remains the only World Cup match decided by a bowl-out, now replaced by the super over.
2007: T20 World Cup Final
In the inaugural T20 World Cup, India and Pakistan faced off again, this time in the final in Johannesburg. Chasing 158, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq kept hopes alive with a gritty performance. However, needing 13 runs in the final over against Joginder Sharma, Misbah’s scoop shot landed in S Sreesanth’s hands, giving India a thrilling five-run victory and their first T20 World Cup title.
2021: T20 World Cup Group Match
In Dubai, India entered the 2021 T20 World Cup group match as favorites, but Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi had other plans. Shaheen’s 3-31, including the dismissal of opener
Rohit Sharma
for a first-ball duck, disrupted India’s top-order.
Virat Kohli
’s 57 offered some resistance, but Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (79) and Babar Azam (68) chased down the target with ease, securing a historic 10-wicket win, their first World Cup victory over India.
2022: Asia Cup Super Four
In the 2022 Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai, Pakistan sought revenge after losing to India in the group stage. Virat Kohli’s 60 helped India post 181/7, but disciplined bowling by Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan kept the total in check. Nawaz’s quickfire 42 off 20 balls guided Pakistan to a thrilling five-wicket win with one ball to spare.
2022: T20 World Cup Group Stage
Their most recent T20 encounter took place at the packed Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Pakistan posted 159/8 and had India struggling at 31/4. However, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 off 53 balls, including a crucial 113-run stand with Hardik Pandya, turned the game around. Needing 31 off the last 12 balls, Kohli’s two sixes off Haris Rauf in the penultimate over set up a four-wicket victory for India on the final ball.
As the cricketing giants prepare to face off in New York, fans can expect another chapter of high-octane drama and fierce competition in the storied rivalry between India and Pakistan.
(With inputs from AFP)
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