India resumes its cricket rivalry with Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in a high-voltage Super 12 opener on October 24. The teams are pooled in the same group, and it will be a keenly watched clash all over the world, considering the two nations only meet in ICC events.
The teams have faced each other five times in the competition, going all the way back to their two close finishes in the first edition of the tournament in 2007.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash between the sides led by Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, we take a look at all the previous encounters between the two nations in the tournament’s history:
2007 - Group stage
Screengrab of Robin Uthappa rolling his arm in the bowl-out contest at the end of the India-Pak group stage match in 2007 | ICC
The first India-Pakistan contest in T20 World Cups was one for the ages. India were restricted to 141 for nine as Mohammad Asif bowled a brilliant spell of four for 18. In response, the Indians picked up early wickets to leave Pakistan reeling at 47 for four.
Misbah-ul-Haq stepped up and scored a brilliant half century. The game went down to the wire and Pakistan needed one off the last two balls. Misbah failed to finish the task, and game was tied and went to a bowl-out contest. India won that best-of-five contest, hitting the stumps thrice while the Pakistan bowlers could not hit it even once.
2007 – Final
India players celebrate after beating Pakistan in the 2007 final | AFP
Twenty days after the sensational group stage game, the neighbours met in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup at Johannesburg. Gautam Gambhir’s 75 powered India to 157 and a young Rohit Sharma chipped in with 30 off 16 balls as well.
Pakistan began their innings with gusto, and once again it was down to Misbah in the last over. With nine wickets down, Pakistan needed six off the last four balls. Misbah chose to scoop the Joginder Sharma delivery and it landed in the hands of a grateful Sreesanth. The iconic game and result set the foundation for M.S. Dhoni’s India captaincy and the start of Indian Premier League the following year.
2012 - Super 8
Zaheer Khan watches the bails fall as Yasir Arafat is run out in the 2012 Super 8 match | Reuters
The next meeting between the two would come five years later in the Super 8 stage of the tournament in Sri Lanka. But unlike the previous two encounters, this was a largely one-sided contest. It was all about one man—Virat Kohli.
Pakistan chose to bat first and were bowled out for 128, thanks to a lively L. Balaji, who picked up three wickets for 22. India walked in to bat and lost Gambhir in just the second ball. But Kohli stepped in and took the game away with a brilliant 78 not out. India crossed the target in 17 overs with eight wickets to spare. Interestingly, Kohli even took a wicket that day!
2014 - Super 10
Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina celebrate the winning runs against Pakistan in the 2014 Super 10 match | AFP
In 2014, the teams came head-to-head in Dhaka in the Super 10 round. India sent Pakistan to bat first and they could manage only 130. Umar Akmal top scored with 33 while Amit Mishra was the pick of the Indian bowlers.
The Indian batters made light of the target as Shikhar Dhawan, Kohli and Suresh Raina all made 30-plus scores. India won by seven wickets and would go on to make the final, which they would lose to Sri Lanka.
2016 - Super 10
Virat Kohli plays a shot during his match-winning knock of 55 against Pakistan in the Super 10 match in 2016 | Salil Bera
The last clash between the two teams was at the previous edition of the World Cup in the Super 10 stage match in Kolkata. The electric atmosphere charged up the teams, and once again, Kohli turned out to be the tormentor in chief. Rain had curtailed the game to 18 overs a side, but that did not dampen Indian spirits.
It took a combined effort by the Indian bowling unit to allow Pakistan no more than 118 runs. Though the returning Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Sami rattled the Indian top-order, Kohli stood tall and crafted a 55-run knock to see India home at the Eden Gardens. Kohli memorably bowed to Sachin Tendulkar, who was in the stands, when he reached his half century.
