Top 10 Iconic Moments Between India and Pakistan

India and Pakistan are two of the most famous rivalries in history, not just in cricket. It’s always a feat to see these two squads go up against each other. Because of the overflowing emotions of the spectators and the political tension between the surrounding countries, it is always a high-voltage encounter with many unforgettable moments. The battle between India and Pakistan is more than just a cricket match; both countries’ people take pleasure in their respective successes.

Here are five of the most memorable moments from India-Pakistan encounters in recent years:

• Aamir Sohail vs. Venkatesh Prasad – 1996 World Cup

The brief on-field fight between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail in 1996 was one of the most memorable World Cup events between India and Pakistan.Pakistan, seeking 288 runs, got off to a flying start, with openers Sohail and Saeed Anwar combining for 84 runs for the first wicket. Sohail completed his half-century with a cut through mid-off after Anwars was removed for 48. He then looked at the attacking seamer Prasad and signalled that he would hit another boundary in the same location on the next delivery. Prasad, on the other hand, threw one outside the off-stump that Sohail completely missed, and his wickets sailed away. 

• Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 – 2003 World Cup

Chasing 276, India got off to a fast start, with openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag contributing 53 runs in just 5 overs. However, both Sehwag and skipper Sourav Ganguly were dispatched by seamer Waqar Younis on consecutive deliveries, and the onus of the chase fell on the Master Blaster. Tendulkar batted from the outset, despite the loss of wickets, and hit 98 in 75 balls at a strike rate of 130.66. His innings featured 12 fours and a six, laying the groundwork for India to chase down the total.

• Virat Kohli’s 100 – 2015 World Cup

The Indian cricket team had a disastrous overseas tour to Australia before the start of the 2015 World Cup, and many expected the team to be eliminated in the group stages. However, in their first World Cup game, India defeated Pakistan by a massive 76-run margin, thanks to a century from Virat Kohli. The right-handed batsman hit 107 runs off 126 balls to become the first Indian to reach a century against Pakistan in any World Cup event. India scored 300 runs and knocked out the opponents for 224 in 47 overs.

• Javed Miandad ‘hilarious’ antics – 1992 World Cup

When India faced Pakistan in the World Cup for the first time in 1992, one of the most uncomfortable cricket shenanigans was on exhibit. Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Javed Miandad was agitated as his team struggled to get runs on a challenging pitch while chasing a meagre total of 217. Tendulkar struck the batter on the pads in the 25th over, prompting a loud appeal from wicketkeeper Kiran More. Miandad, irritated, objected to the superfluous appeal. He pulled aside before Tendulkar could pitch the following ball and then exchanged verbal blows with More. Next, he attempted to steal a single off Tendulkar’s next delivery but rushed back to his position as India promptly returned the ball to the keeper. Miandad then jokingly leaped three times in the air to emphasise his frustration.

• Ajay Jadeja vs Waqar Younis – 1996 World Cup

In the 1996 World Cup, India’s Ajay Jadeja delivered one of the most memorable World Cup innings. Waqar Younis was widely regarded as the best bowler of his period when cricket was nowhere near its T20 form. After replacing Mohammad Azharuddin in the middle, Jadeja hammered 45 runs in 25 balls at a strike rate of 180. In his inning, he hit four fours and two sixes. The batsman was recognized for smashing 23 runs off Younis in five balls, only to be bowled on the sixth ball he faced from the seamer. His innings increased India’s total to 287/8 in 50 overs, with 51 runs added in the final three overs.

• Pakistan had a 0/3 record in 2006.

Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a hat trick in the opening over of a Test match on January 29, 2006, in one of the most memorable encounters in the India-Pakistan test series. Pakistan had a terrible score of 0/3 after the first over! Despite this, the men in green caught up and dominated the rest of the game, winning by 341 runs!

• Shahid Afridi’s Heroic Innings in 2014

      In the sixth match of the 2014 Asia Cup in Dhaka, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, with India setting a target of 246. With ten runs needed from the final over, Shahid Afridi went all out, hitting two consecutive sixes to help Pakistan win with two balls remaining. Afridi’s match-winning innings of 38 (18) included two fours and three sixes, at a strike rate of above 188.

• Final of the Icc T20 World Cup in 2007

The arch-rivals met in a thrilling maiden T20 World Cup final. India batted first and set a 158-run target. Pakistan reached 149/9 at the end of the 19th over, requiring 13 runs from the final over. Everyone was taken aback when MS Dhoni, captaining India for the first time, entrusted the ball to an inexperienced Joginder Sharma. Sharma grabbed Pakistan’s final wicket despite delivering a wide ball and being hammered for a six, proving Dhoni correct, and India won by five runs.

• 1989: Sachin’s 6, 0, 4, 6, 6, 6 In An Over

The first ODI between India and Pakistan at Peshawar was initially cancelled due to bad lighting, but a 20-over exhibition match was organised to appease the fans. Sachin Tendulkar, 16, attracted the attention of the entire nation when he made his debut in the limited-overs competition. After Sachin smacked a couple of sixes off Mushtaq Ahmed’s over, Abdul Qadir became irritated and instructed Sachin to attempt to hit him instead. In Qadir’s over, Sachin responded with a 6,0,4,6,6,6!

• Semifinals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup:

            The semifinal of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Mohali, India, was a tense affair. India and Pakistan were both competing for a spot in the final. Sachin Tendulkar’s vital 85-run innings, as well as his partnerships with Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, helped India to a competitive total. Pakistan’s pursuit fell short, and India won the match by 29 runs, advancing to the World Cup final and subsequently collecting the championship.

Also Read: History And Evolution Of Cricket Balls: From The 18th Century To Today

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