Why IPL has become more interesting than India-Pakistan no-contests

Purely from a cricketing point of view, the time has come to move on from the India-Pakistan rivalry. Pakistan’s famed sides of the 1980s and 1990s have long been a thing of the past. They are now cricketing minnows.

Shamik Chakrabarty

September 15, 2025 / 10:52 IST

Why IPL has become more interesting than India-Pakistan no-contests (AP Photo)

Air raid sirens were blared out. A blackout ensued. Drones and missiles took control of the skid, and amid the India-Pakistan military conflict, the IPL had to be temporarily stopped. It wasn't long ago and naturally geopolitics took centre-stage in the build-up to the India versus Pakistan cricket match on Sunday. The Asia Cup is a second-string tournament. Over the years it has revolved around the India-Pakistan rivalry. It's no longer the case now. Any IPL match is more attractive than this lopsided contest. It doesn't have to be between the big-hitters — Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings for example.

Pakistan won the toss, elected to bat and laboured to 127/9 in 20 overs. Top T20I sides get to that score at the halfway stage of a match. Only a few days ago, England posted a 300-plus total against South Africa. Pakistan actually were on 97/8 at one stage, in the 18th over. Shaheen Shah Afridi's 33 not out off 16 balls gave the total a touch of respectability. After that, India decided to do batting practice. The gulf in class between the two teams made the game a no-contest.

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Not a single Pakistan player would get into an IPL side even if they are allowed to participate in the tournament. India’s B team would beat them fair and square. Purely from a cricketing point of view, the time has come to move on from the India-Pakistan rivalry. Pakistan’s famed sides of the 1980s and 1990s have long been a thing of the past. They are now cricketing minnows.

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has become so stale across formats — T20Is and ODIs — that even Zomato, a food delivery giant, has developed a habit of mocking it. They didn't do it for the Asia Cup fixture, but before the game between the two teams in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, the company had posted this on their X (formerly Twitter) handle: “With 5 one-sided wins in the last 6 matches (with 1 being washed out), the rivalry has become like a chewing gum — ab swaad nahi raha. Hoping Pakistan can show up today and make us bite our nails instead of biting burgers, pizzas, biryani.”