Cricket World Cup
India vs. Pakistan: From the first World T20 in 2007 to the 1996 ODI Cricket World Cup classic in Bengaluru, here are five unforgettable IND vs. PAK World Cup encounters.
Final of the 2007 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup
With the equation down to six runs off four balls, Misbah-ul-Haq hit a scoop straight to S. Sreesanth at short fine-leg, giving India a five-run victory and their first Cricket World Cup championship in 28 years. Pakistan, chasing 158, was down and out at 77/6 when Shahid Afridi went for a golden duck. Misbah sparked Pakistan’s comeback, bringing the squad within striking distance. But it was not to be.
Earlier, India was without Virender Sehwag due to injury at the Cricket World Cup. Yusuf Pathan, a debutant, took his spot. After a rocky start, India’s top-scorer, Gautam Gambhir, anchored anchor with a tenacious 54-ball 75 before debutant Rohit Sharma’s cameo of 30 off 16 helped the side record a battling 157.
ODI Cricket World Cup 2015
The 2015 Cricket World Cup group stage encounter in Australia was a one-sided affair. When India batted first, Rohit Sharma was run out in the eighth over by Sohail Khan. Then Virat Kohli put on a show, batting a tenacious 107 (126), superbly assisted by Shikhar Dhawan’s 73(76) and Suresh Raina’s 74. (56). Pakistan’s disciplined death bowling assisted in limiting India to 300.
With the exception of Misbah-ul-courageous Haq’s 76, Pakistan’s batters did not show up (84). Pakistan were eliminated for 224 in 47 overs. Mohammed Shami ended with 4-35 numbers at the Cricket World Cup.
World Cup of ODIs in 2003
India faced a 274-point objective at Cricket World Cup. Pakistan, led by Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar’s three-man pace attack, was aiming for the country’s first World Cup triumph against India. Pakistan owed a lot to opener Saeed Anwar’s century. The scene was now prepared for India’s hero to emerge. The first 50 runs were scored in 4.5 overs! The dismissals of Virender Sehwag and Little. 3 Sourav Ganguly in the sixth over had no effect on the man of the moment, Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar toyed with the speed trio in what turned out to be a stunning counter-attack. His timing was impeccable, and his stroke selection was flawless at the Cricket World Cup. During this oft-remembered attack, he did need medical treatment, but he returned with a satisfying, straight-driven four.
Tendulkar needed a runner when he was on 98. Sehwag returned to the middle, but the maestro left immediately after the restart, unable to keep Akhtar’s rising delivery away from a diving Younus Khan at the Cricket World Cup. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh then scored 99 runs to lead India to victory.
World Cup of ODIs in 1996
The firing of Aamir Sohail by Venkatesh Prasad was the main topic of discussion. Sohail smashed a boundary through the off-side and then pointed to Prasad, who then produced a ball that uprooted the off-stump and gave India a much-needed break against the flow of play. Until then, Pakistan seemed to be running away with the game; it was 113 for 1 chasing 288 at the Cricket World Cup. Following that, wickets dropped steadily, and India cruised to victory. Sohail earned 55 points off 46 deliveries, while his opening partner, Saeed Anwar, had 48.
It was Miandad’s last One-Day International. He scored 38 points before being knocked out. Prasad ended with three wickets for 45 runs. With 93 points, Sidhu was India’s leading scorer. Jadeja contributed 45 points on 25 attempts.
Pakistan defeated India by ten wickets in the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Chasing 152 at the Cricket World Cup betting, Mohammad Rizwan hit an unbeaten 78 and skipper Babar Azam was 68 not out as Pakistan recorded its first World Cup victory against India. Despite an exciting 3-31 from fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, Virat Kohli had earlier scored 57 to spearhead India’s 151-7. It was the first time Pakistan won a T20 by ten wickets, while India had never lost one by that amount.