India vs Pakistan in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: History, records, win percentage

In the 1996 Cricket World Cup India-Pakistan match in Bangalore, Aamir Sohail hit Venkatesh Prasad for four in the 15th over and gestured at the bowler, presumably asking him to fetch the ball. Prasad responded by knocking out Sohail’s off stump next ball and pointing at the pavilion. (File photo)

At the Men’s World Cup, India’s streak against Pakistan (seven matches, seven wins) is matched only by Pakistan’s against Sri Lanka. Yet, India and Pakistan never met in the tournament across the first four editions, between 1975 and 1987: they were invariably placed in separate groups. India did not qualify for the top four in the first two editions. They broke that barrier in 1983, when they won the trophy, but the West Indies knocked out Pakistan in the other semifinal.

In 1987, India and Pakistan co-hosted the World Cup. Expectations were immense, and once the two teams made it to the semifinals, the Eden Gardens in Calcutta geared up for the final between the two sides. As things turned out, two old rivals did clash in the final – but a different set: Australia and England.

India vs Pakistan at Cricket World Cup, 1992-2019

1992, Sydney: India won by 43 runs

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

There was no group in 1992: each team had to play every other in a round-robin league. Now, India and Pakistan had to play each other. The relatively amicable 1980s were gone. Political tensions had resurfaced, and bilateral ties between the nations had stopped since 1990. However, they kept playing each other, mostly at Sharjah. A World Cup, however, was different.

India made 216-7 in 49 overs. Sachin Tendulkar, their young superstar, made 54 not out, while Kapil Dev blasted a 26-ball 35. Aamer Sohail (62) and Javed Miandad (40) took Pakistan to 105-2, but they were eventually bowled out for 173.

Kiran More’s loud appeals, and Miandad’s spot jumps to mimic More, remain among the most-watched moments of the match.

1996, Bangalore: India won by 39 runs

Player of the Match: Navjot Sidhu

Yet again, the two teams were pitted in separate groups. This time they faced each other in the quarterfinal. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who had not bowled in the previous match, did not recover in time, and Sohail led instead.

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 93 was the highest score of the match. Down the order, Ajay Jadeja made 45 in 25 balls: this included a violent onslaught on Waqar Younis, whose last two overs went for 40.

Pakistan began well, adding 84 in 61 balls for the first wicket. Then, in the 15th over, Sohail hit Venkatesh Prasad for four and gestured at the bowler, presumably asking him to fetch the ball. Prasad responded by knocking out Sohail’s off stump next ball and pointing at the pavilion.

From 113-1, Pakistan collapsed to 132-4, and could only manage 248-9 in what turned out to be Miandad’s farewell match.

1999, Old Trafford: India won by 47 runs

Player of the Match: Venkatesh Prasad

The match took place in the backdrop of the Kargil War. Fans from both nations made their presence felt at the venue, resulting in multiple arrests and ejections.

India’s 227-6 was built around Rahul Dravid’s solid 61 and Mohammad Azharuddin’s masterful 59, but at 44-1, the Pakistan chase seemed on. Yet again Prasad rose to the challenge – his 5-27 are the best figures in World Cup matches between the two teams – and Pakistan folded for 180.

The was also the first time four Indian fans in England met to cheer for their side. They founded the Bharat Army, a group of Indian fans who coordinate to follow and cheer for the Indian team around the world.

2003, Centurion: India won by 6 wickets with 26 balls to spare

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

The ‘Friendship Series’ of 2004 was still a year away. The political tension had eased somewhat, but bilateral series between the teams were yet to resume after the War. This clash was, thus, eagerly anticipated by fans of both sides.

A delightful 101 from Saeed Anwar pushed Pakistan to 273-7. By the time the Indian openers arrived at the centre, Tendulkar had made up his mind: he, and not Virender Sehwag, would take first strike.

It was a special innings even by Tendulkar’s standards, and that is saying something. India raced away to 50-0 in five overs from Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar. The crème de la crème was Tendulkar’s YouTube-moment slash over deep third off Shoaib for six.

Two quick wickets to Waqar, but that did not hamper Tendulkar, whose 75-ball 98 remains one of his greatest innings. Pakistan might have sniffed a chance when he fell, but Dravid and Yuvraj Singh saw India through.

Of India’s seven wins against Pakistan at the World Cup, this was the only time they batted second.

2011, Mohali: India won by 29 runs

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

India and Pakistan had met only twice since the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai – at the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa and at the 2010 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

The 2011 World Cup semifinal was, thus, played under tight security, more so because Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Gilani, the Prime Ministers, were both in attendance. The authorities even hired local police officers as food tasters for the cricketers. In the end, the match was played out peacefully.

Unlike the 2003 masterpiece, Tendulkar’s 85 here was a scratchy effort. Bowlers beat his bat, appealed for dismissals, and were unhappy with the DRS. Catches went down.

To his credit, Tendulkar clung on as Wahab Riaz (5-46) ran away with the wickets and Saeed Ajmal (2-44) kept the pressure on. Suresh Raina’s 39-ball 36 not out then took India to 260-9. Pakistan capitulated for 231.

2015, Melbourne: India won by 76 runs

Player of the Match: Virat Kohli

By this time, India’s streak (five wins, no defeats) against Pakistan had become a talking point. Ahead of this World Cup, Star Sports ran mauka mauka, an ad campaign featuring a Pakistani fan waiting for an eternity to see his team beat India.

It did not happen. Virat Kohli (107) found support in Shikhar Dhawan (73) and Suresh Raina (74) to help India reach 300-7. This time Sohail Khan got 5-55.

Ahmed Shehzad made 47 in response but took far too much time. Misbah-ul-Haq got 76, but Mohammed Shami’s (4-35) periodic strikes reduced the match to a one-sided affair, and Pakistan folded for 224.

2019, Old Trafford: India won by 89 runs (DLS Method)

Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma

Twenty years after Prasad had run through Pakistan, the two teams met at the same venue yet again. This time the big innings came from Rohit Sharma: 140 in 113 balls.

The Pakistan chase of 337 lost momentum amidst multiple bursts of rain. At no point did they threaten to chase down their adjusted target of 302 in 40 overs. Fakhar Zaman made 62 and Babar Azam 48, but 212-6 was all Pakistan could muster.