The arch-rivals or what we say to about the most intense rivalry in the cricket field like the “face off” of Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal on the tennis court.
If there is an equivalent of “FC Barcelona vs Arsenal” in cricket it would definitely be “India vs Pakistan”.
“Over the span of years many series between these two cricket playing nations were cancelled at the last moment due to political issues but still this rivalry stands above the rest.”
No matter their bragging rights and intensity between these two nations are on a different level.
Even though series like Ashes is still way behind From this rivalry in terms of viewership.
“Cricket pitch is always known for serious hitting down the ground or even sometimes out of the park but this pitch turn into the intense war field from the very ball, run or wicket.” Here we have picked up some of most nail biting thriller games to a one sided contest between these two teams.
India vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, 2005:
Test series was drawn and teams have started the 6 match Di series, Pakistan already lost the first game and are looking to Win the 2nd one. Indian captain decided to bat first after winning the toss but opener Sachin got departed early at score of 26/1. The bowlers and Pakistan were excited and little surprised to see young MS Dhoni walk in to bat at No.3 with Virender Sehwag.
The way these two put on 96 run partnership for the 2nd wicket was treat to watch specially some clean and hard hitting from Virender Sehwag while scoring 76 runs off 40 balls. The middle order didn’t consolidated well with top order batsman expect Rahul Dravid who made 52 runs off 59 balls.
But innings that completely stunned the audience and never let them on their seats Was ME Dhoni 148 runs off 123 balls with some completely unorthodox hitting and jaw dropping strokeplays the statement was from young dhoni that his “era has begun" and take the scoreboard to 356/9 in 50 overs.
While chasing a target of 357 in those years when there were no T-20 cricket tourists were never in the game from the start the expectations was from Afridi but he departed early and left his team in the trouble. The required run rate was going high as the Pakistan team was difficult to convert the singles into boundaries and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Abdul Razaaq (88) and Yousuf quick (71) tried to fight back but didn’t help the Pakistan team to get back into the game and managed to score only 298 runs in 50 overs and lost the match by 58 runs.
Full Scorecard: India vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, 2005
2. India vs Pakistan, Champions trophy Final, 2017:
Favourites of the tournament and defending champions team India meet the underdogs of the tournament Pakistan in the clash of final. Indian captain after winning the toss asked Pakistan to bat first on the green pitch of the oval and looked like underdogs were waiting for this moment.
They have taken full advantage of putting them in to bat first and openers put on a 128 stand partnership for the first wicket in just 23 overs. It was cleared at this point the momentum wad with Pakistan and the other batsman to have dig deep in that momentum to take the scoreboard to 338/4 in 50 overs well-consolidated knocks of Azhar Ali (59), Babbar Azam (46), Hafeez 57* and scintillating knock and century of Fakhar Zaman (114).
Defending champions and with the best chaser in the world in their lineup started the chase with hopes of every Indian fan to chase it down before 50 overs. As Pakistan was playing with their best pacer Mohammed Amir and just the third ball of innings the hitman Rohit Sharma caught in the front of wickets to him and went back to the hut but the situation got worse when it was 72/6 after being dismantled by Pakistan bowling unit.
The two underdogs Pandya and Jadeja were on the crease and started rotating the strike converting singles into doubles and Pandya showed some jaw-dropping strokeplay with blows deep into the stands while Jadeja rotating the strike and kept the other end. The partnership was built and it looked like India's team was in the game at the score 152/6 in 26.3 overs.
Then came a twist in the form of some misunderstanding between two players and Pandya was run out and went back to pavilion with some obvious behaviour towards Jadeja. That he was angry and not happy.
The hopes were ended and even was ended within the 6 runs India team lost the final by 180 runs. It was rare to see Pakistan defeat India in an ICC game.
Full Scorecard: India vs Pakistan, Champions trophy Final, 2017
3. India vs Pakistan, Rothman's cup, 1985:
First match of the tournament of the Four nations cup. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. Indian openers were on the crease Ravi Shastri and Srikanth.
Imran khan started the bowling from Pakistan team he was on the flat track was the most difficult pacers to play against in those years and what he has done to India team after befuddled them to 125/10 with his career-best figures of 6/14 in 10 overs. The Indian batsmen were nowhere near the pace and swing of Imran Khan.
Though Arharuddin (47) and Kapil dev (30) put one partnership Tauseef Ahmed won't let them score for too long and removed both of them before India moved to a big score.
With the small total of 126, it was not really difficult with the star-studded batting line up of Pakistan team but Pakistan team crumbled down to 41/5 after Indian seamers ripped apart their batting order while Pakistan offered their wickets.
The game gets serious when the score was 74/6 but it turned into a down disaster when team bowled at 87/10 with some extraordinary fielding from Indian team who made real tough for the batsman to score runs in a low scoring thriller while Gavaskar taking four catches and created the world record for defending the lowest total in ODI.
Later on India team defended 105 in 2014 Against Bangladesh to break this record but the best bowling figure of Imran Khan came in the losing cause still these figures 6/14 in cricket history unbeaten in cricket by anyone.
Full Scorecard: India vs Pakistan, Rothman's cup, 1985
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