When India and Pakistan play cricket, the world watches. It may sound exaggerated, but when you have the greatest rivals going up against each other, sparks are sure to fly. There have been several memorable matches between the two teams, but the most nail-biting one was probably the 2007 T20 World Cup final in Johannesburg on September 24. The image of Sreesanth taking the winning catch to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq, will be etched forever in the minds of every Indian. India beat Pakistan by a mere five runs.
Pakistan dominated India in the 1980s and 1990s, thus having a better overall score. However, India has a good track record against their rivals in the T20Is. For India, Virat Kohli is the champion batter, with 364 runs and a best score of 78 not out, against Pakistan. On the other side, Shoaib Malik is the top run-getter, with 164. However, Mohammed Rizwan has the bragging rights with a highest score of 79 not out against India in T20Is.
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Here's a look at the last five encounters between India and Pakistan in T20Is.
Asia Cup, September 4, 2022
The arch-rivals last went up against each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. Batting first, India posted 181/7, with Virat Kohli anchoring the innings with a brilliant 60 of 44 balls. Though Shadab Khan took two wickets, Mohammad Nawaz was the most economical of the bowlers, with 1/25 in four overs. In reply, Pakistan opener Mohammed Rizwan led from the front, with a sensational 51-ball 71. But it was Nawaz again, this time with the bat, who proved to be India's nemesis. His 20-ball 42 blew away Indian hopes, as Pakistan won by five wickets and a ball to spare.
Asia Cup, August 28, 2022
India and Pakistan played against each other earlier in the same tournament. Then, India had got the better of Pakistan, winning by five wickets and two balls to spare. Pakistan could only manage 147, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking 4/26 and Hardik Pandya taking 3/25. Once again, Rizwan was the top scorer for Pakistan, with a 42-ball 43. Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja anchored the chase for India with 35 each, before Pandya smashed a 17-ball 33 to clinch the match. Nawaz shone with the ball, taking 3/33.Pandya was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round performance.
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T20 World Cup, October 24, 2021
It is match that India would like to forget in a hurry, but Pakistan wouldn't! Amid all the talk on how India had dominated the Men in Green at the ICC tournaments, Pakistan dished out a 10-wicket humiliation to the Men in Blue at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Indian top order was blown away by Shaheen Afridi (3/31), which earned him the man of the match award. Kohli, once again, came to the rescue with a 49-ball 57. Rishabh Pant, too, contributed a useful 39. India could post only 151/7, which Pakistan chased down with ease without losing a wicket. Rizwan (79*) and Babar Azam (68*) made short work of the target in 17.5 overs.
T20 World Cup, March 19, 2016
In a rain-curtailed match at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India prevailed over Pakistan by six wickets and 13 balls to spare. On a slow, turning pitch, India restricted Pakistan to 118/5 in 18 overs, with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja and pacer Ashish Nehra bowling beautifully. In reply, it was that man again – Kohli – who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 37-ball 55 on a pitch the batters were finding difficult to adjust. Yuvraj Singh, too, chipped in with 24 runs. The target would have been far less, had Umar Akmal (22) and Malik (26) scored 51 runs in the last five overs. It was India's 11th win over Pakistan in a World Cup match.
Asia Cup, February 27, 2016
It was Pakistan's turn to be humiliated, at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Bangladesh. Batting first, the Men in Green were bowled out for 83 in 17.4 overs, with Pandya taking 3/8 and Jadeja 2/11. Only Sarfaraz Ahmed (25) and Khurram Manzoor (10) reached double figures. In reply, India were given quite a scare by Mohammad Amir, who took 3/18, as he reduced them to 8/3 by the third over. But, Kohli, for the umpteenth time, saw India through with a 51-ball 49. Yuvraj Singh had a torrid time with the bat, remaining unbeaten on 14 off 32 balls. India chased down the paltry target in 15.3 overs.