The cricket rivalry between the Pakistan and India national cricket teams is one of the most intense sporting contests in the world. It’s always more than sport. It represents the decades of history, politics, culture, and emotions that extend far beyond the boundary ropes. Millions of fans across the world eagerly await every clash, making it a spectacle of passion and price.
In this article, we will explore the Pakistan and India National Cricket Team Timeline. Moreover, the rivalry between the two nations’ cricket teams has been tracking its journey from the first test in 1952 to the present day.
Early Encounters: 1952-1970s
The rivalry officially began in October 1952. That was the time when Pakistan toured India for their first-ever test series. India won the five-match series 2-1. It marked the start of an extraordinary cricketing relationship.
- In the 1950s to 1960s, Pakistan and India witnessed intermittent cricketing ties due to political tensions.
- The 1778-79 series was particularly important. India toured Pakistan after a gap of nearly two decades. This time, Pakistan won the Test Series 2-0. The game also marked the rising stars like Imran Khan and Zaheer Abbas, who began to dominate.
Head To Head In Tests (1952-1979)
| Period | Matches Played | India Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws | Key Highlights |
| 1952–1960 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | India won the inaugural 1952 series 2–1; most matches in this era were slow, defense-oriented. |
| 1961–1970 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | A decade of complete stalemate, reflecting the evenly matched bowling units of both sides. |
| 1971–1979 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | Pakistan dominated at home with fast bowlers like Imran Khan emerging as match-winners. |
Intensifying Rivalry: 1980s-1990s
The 1980s brought frequent bilateral series and increased global attention. Cricket became a symbolic battlefield between the two nations.
- 1982-1983 Series: Pakistan defeated India by 3-0 in a six-test series at home.
- 1985 World Championship of Cricket (Benson & Hedges Cup): India beat Pakistan in the final, sparking euphoria back home.
- Sharjah Battles: Neutral-venue matches in Sharjah during the late 1980s-1990s became iconic. Miandad’s last ball six against Chetan Sharma in 1986 is still remembered as one of the greatest Indo-Pak moments.
The 1990s added even more drama:
- 1996 World Cup Quarter-Final (Bangalore): India defeated Pakistan in front of a packed stadium. With Ajaj Jadeja’s cameo against Waqar Younis, which is still cherished.
- 1999 Chennai Test: Pakistan clinched a famous win led by Saqlain Mushtaq. But the Indian crowd gave a standing ovation to the visitors, showing the respect cricket commands.
Head To Head In the 1980s-1990s
| Year/Series | Format | Venue/Host | Result | Key Highlights |
| 1982–83 Test Series | Test | Pakistan | Pakistan won 3–0 | Imran Khan’s lethal pace destroyed India, Pakistan’s first dominant home series win. |
| 1983 World Cup | ODI | England | India beat Pakistan | Part of India’s fairytale campaign leading to their first World Cup win. |
| 1985 Benson & Hedges Cup | ODI | Australia | Saqlain Mushtaq’s match-winning bowling; the Indian crowd gave Pakistan a standing ovation. | Sunil Gavaskar’s men lifted the trophy; Javed Miandad vs Kapil Dev clash defined this era. |
| 1986 Austral-Asia Cup | ODI | Sharjah | Pakistan beat India | Miandad’s iconic last-ball six off Chetan Sharma became folklore. |
| 1987 Test Series | Test | India | Drawn 0–0 | Both sides played cautious cricket during heightened political tensions. |
| 1997 Sahara Cup Series | ODI | Toronto | Pakistan dominated 4–1 | Neutral-venue cricket drew global attention; Saeed Anwar flourished. |
| 1999 Chennai Test | Test | India | Pakistan won by 12 runs | Saqlain Mushtaq’s match-winning bowling; Indian crowd gave Pakistan a standing ovation. |
Cricket Diplomacy & Early 2000s
The 2000s were marked by cricket diplomacy, where matches were used as a medium to soften relations.
- 2004 Tour of Pakistan: India visited Pakistan after 15 years. It was historic, India winning both the test and ODI series. The tour was remembered for its festive atmosphere. Where fans from both sides mingled freely.
- 2007 ICC T20 World Cup Final: India defeated Pakistan in the final to win the inaugural trophy. Misbah-ul-Haq’s scoop attempt that ended in Sreesanth’s hands. That attempt remains one of the most dramatic endings in cricket history.
India vs Pakistan in ICC World Cups (1992–2007)
| Year / Tournament | Stage | Result | Key Highlights |
| 1992 ODI World Cup | Group Stage | India beat Pakistan by 43 runs | Sachin Tendulkar’s 54 and Kapil Dev’s finishing touch ensured India’s win in Sydney. Pakistan went on to win the tournament despite this loss. |
| 1996 ODI World Cup | Quarter-Final | India won by 39 runs | Played in Bangalore. Ajay Jadeja’s explosive cameo vs Waqar Younis and Venkatesh Prasad’s iconic send-off to Aamir Sohail became legendary. |
| 1999 ODI World Cup | Super Six | India beat Pakistan by 47 runs | In Manchester, during the Kargil War, Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin shone with the bat; Venkatesh Prasad starred with the ball. |
| 2003 ODI World Cup | Group Stage | India won by 6 wickets | Sachin Tendulkar’s epic 98 off 75 balls at Centurion remains one of the greatest World Cup knocks. Shoaib Akhtar’s fiery spells added to the drama. |
| 2007 T20 World Cup | Final | India won by 5 runs | A heart-stopping finish in Johannesburg. Misbah-ul-Haq’s scoop ended in Sreesanth’s hands, giving India the inaugural T20 World Cup title. |
ICC Tournaments: Triumphs & Heartbreaks
The rivalry found its biggest stage in ICC tournaments:
- 2011 ODI World Cup Semi-Final (Mohali): India knocked out Pakistan in the semi-finals and moved ahead in the finals. Later, the results were that India won the World Cup at home.
- 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final (London): Pakistan stunned India with a massive 180-run victory. Followed by Fakhar Zaman’s venturi and Muhammad Amir’s fiery spell. This remains Pakistan’s most memorable win over India in ICC events.
India vs Pakistan in ICC Events (as of 2025)
| Format / Event | Matches Played | India Wins | Pakistan Wins | NR/Tie | Key Highlights |
| ODI World Cup | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | India has maintained a 100% win record against Pakistan in World Cups since 1992. Memorable games include the 1996 QF in Bangalore. Also, the 2003 clash where Sachin Tendulkar smashed 98, and the 2011 semi-final in Mohali. |
| T20 World Cup | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | Pakistan’s only win came in 2021 (Dubai) when they beat India by 10 wickets. Otherwise, India has dominated, including the dramatic 2007 final. It also includes Virat Kohli’s iconic knock in the 2022 Melbourne clash. |
| Champions Trophy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | Pakistan holds the edge here. Their most famous win came in the 2017 final at The Oval, where Fakhar Zaman’s century and Mohammad Amir’s spell crushed India. India’s victories included the 2008 and 2013 editions. |
The Decade Of No Bilateral Cricket (2013-2025)
Pakistan and India cricket teams have not played any bilateral series since 2013. It is due to strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.
- The last test series was in 2007.
- The last ODI series was played in 2012 (India won 3-2).
- Since then, the rivalry has been a bit cold. It is limited to ICC and Asia Cup Tournaments.
However, their encounters continue to draw record-breaking viewership. For example, in the 2002 T20 World Cup Match in Melbourne, there were over 100,000 fans in attendance. This broke digital viewership records worldwide.
Overall Head-to-Head Record (as of 2025)
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws / No Result | Key Highlights |
| Test | 59 | 9 | 12 | 38 | Pakistan is ahead overall; India dominates in ICC events. |
| ODI | 136 | 58 | 73 | 5 | Pakistan ahead overall; India dominates in ICC events. |
| T20I | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | India dominated; Pakistan’s only win came in the 2021 WC. |
Key Players in the India–Pakistan Rivalry
There have been several cricketers born in different eras who have left an indelible mark on this rivalry. From fiery fast bowlers to batting maestros. Their performances had often defined the outcome of matches. Sometimes they had turned the tables. And that’s how they became part of cricketing folklore.
Key Players Who Defined the Rivalry
| Player | Country | Role | Rivalry Highlights |
| Sunil Gavaskar | India | Batsman | Captain in the 2007 T20 WC win; calm finisher in Indo-Pak clashes. |
| Kapil Dev | India | All-rounder | Led India in the 1980s; contributed in the 1985 B&H Cup and World Cup encounters. |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | Batsman | “Master Blaster”; memorable knocks in 2003 WC (98 vs Shoaib) and 2011 WC SF. |
| Virender Sehwag | India | Batsman | Aggressive starts; famous 309 at Multan (2004). |
| MS Dhoni | India | Batsman and Wicketkeeper | Led Pakistan to dominance in the 1980s; his fiery spells in the 1982–83 Test series haunted India. |
| Virat Kohli | India | Batsman | Consistently scored against Pakistan; iconic 82* in the 2022 T20 WC at Melbourne. |
| Imran Khan | Pakistan | All-rounder | Match-winning century in the 2017 Champions Trophy final vs India. |
| Javed Miandad | Pakistan | Batsman | Famous for the last-ball six at Sharjah (1986); consistent run-scorer vs India. |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | Fast Bowler | Tormented India with swing and pace in the 1990s, starting in the 1999 Chennai Test. |
| Shoaib Akhtar | Pakistan | Fast Bowler | “Rawalpindi Express”; duels with Sachin and Sehwag became legendary. |
| Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | Batsman | Match-winning century in the 2017 Champions Trophy final vs India. |
Final Thoughts
The rivalry between the Pakistan and India cricket teams has always been more than just a sporting contest. It’s an emotion that transcends boundaries. Every match or encounter brings decades of history and unforgettable performances. It has become the collective passion for millions of fans to witness the intense rivalry with their own eyes. The number speaks of India’s dominance in ICC events. The intensity of the rivalry ensures that every clash remains unpredictable. A kind of fierce competitiveness. So, this rivalry continues to be cricket’s greatest spectacle, which is uniting and dividing hearts in equal measure as of 2025.
