Buckle up, cricket fans, because the T20 World Cup 2024 is hurtling towards us, and with it, the most electrifying clash in cricket history – India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match!
While every encounter between these arch-rivals is a spectacle, a T20 World Cup stage adds an extra layer of intensity and drama. So, before the fireworks explode in the US, let’s rewind and relive the epic moments that have already unfolded in this T20 World Cup saga between the two nations.
2007: The Birth of a Legacy:
The stage was set in Durban for their group stage clash. Robin Uthappa’s half-century propelled India to 141/9, a modest but potentially challenging total.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s resilient batsman, countered with a composed fifty, keeping his team in the chase. But the Indian bowlers tightened their grip, forcing a nail-biting tie. In a dramatic bowl-out, India emerged victorious, leaving fans gasping for breath.
Group Stage Match:
- Date: September 14, 2007
- Venue: Kingsmead, Durban, South Africa
- Toss: Pakistan (elected to field first)
- Score:
- India – 141/9 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Robin Uthappa (50), MS Dhoni (33)]
- Bowling: [Mohammad Asif (4/18), Shahid Afridi (2/37)]
- Pakistan – 141/7 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Misbah-ul-Haq (53), Shoaib Malik (20)]
- Bowling: [Irfan Pathan (2/20), RP Singh (1/23)]
- India – 141/9 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: India
- Player of the Match: Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)
The Final Showdown of India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match:
The final, held under the Johannesburg sky. India, powered by Gautam Gambhir’s 75 and Rohit Sharma’s late blitz, set a competitive total of 157.
Pakistan’s hopes rested on Misbah’s shoulders, and he carried them valiantly. With one wicket remaining and 13 runs needed off the final over, the match hung in the balance.
Misbah, in a moment of desperation, attempted a risky shot off Joginder Sharma’s delivery, only to send the ball soaring towards Sreesanth at long-on. Sreesanth, with nerves of steel, held on to the catch, sealing India’s victory and etching their names in history as the first-ever T20 World Champions.
- Date: September 24, 2007
- Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Toss winner: India (elected to bat first)
- Score:
- India – 157/5 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Gautam Gambhir (75), Rohit Sharma (30*)]
- Bowling: [Umar Gul (3/28), Sohail Tanvir (1/29)]
- Pakistan – 152 (overs – 19.3/20)
- Batting: [Misbah-ul-Haq (43), Imran Nazir (33)]
- Bowling: [Irfan Pathan (3/16), RP Singh (3/26)]
- India – 157/5 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: India won by 5 runs
- Player of the Match: Irfan Pathan (India)
2012: Another Dominant Display by India:
Five years later, in Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan met again in the Super 10s of 2012 T20 World Cup. Pakistan got to bat first, putting up a decent score of 128 thanks to Malik and Umar.
But the Indian bowlers were on fire, especially Balaji and Ashwin, who kept Pakistan’s batting in check the whole time.
When it was India’s turn, they chased down the target smoothly. The star of the show was Virat Kohli, who played a brilliant innings of 78 runs in just 61 balls.
He hit some amazing shots, leaving the crowd cheering wildly. Thanks to Kohli’s fantastic batting, India reached the target with 18 balls left, winning the match by a cool 8 wickets and adding another thrilling chapter to the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup rivalry.
Super 10 Group Stage Match:
- Date: September 30, 2012
- Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Toss: Pakistan (elected to bat first)
- Score:
- Pakistan – 128 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Shoaib Malik (28), Umar Akmal (21)]
- Bowling: [Lakshmipathy Balaji (3/22), Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16)]
- India – 129/2 (overs – 17/20)
- Batting: [Virat Kohli (78*), Virender Sehwag (29)]
- Bowling: [Raza Hasan (1/22), Shahid Afridi (1/34)]
- Pakistan – 128 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: India won by 8 wickets
- Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India)
2014: A One-Sided Showdown:
In the 2014 T20 World Cup, India and Pakistan played in Dhaka. Pakistan chose to bat first, but India’s bowlers were tough to score against. They got out some key players early, like Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad. Still, Umar Akmal made a good score, and Pakistan finished with 130 runs in 20 overs.
In response, Dhawan scored 30 runs before getting out. However, Kohli and Suresh Raina were unstoppable. They played beautifully, scoring 36 and 35 runs respectively, without losing their wickets.
In the end, India easily chased down the target with 7 wickets and some overs to spare.
Super 10 Group 2 Stage Encounter:
- Date: March 21, 2014
- Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
- Toss: India (elected to field first)
- Score:
- Pakistan – 130/7 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Umar Akmal (33), Ahmed Shehzad (22)]
- Bowling: [Amit Mishra (2/22), Ravindra Jadeja (1/18)]
- India – 131/3 (overs – 18.3/20)
- Batting: [Virat Kohli (36*), Suresh Raina (35*)]
- Bowling: [Saeed Ajmal (1/18), Bilawal Bhatti (1/17)]
- Pakistan – 130/7 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: India won by 7 wickets
- Player of the Match: Amit Mishra (India)
2016: Not So Typical India vs Pakistan World Cup match:
This time, the two cricket giants faced off in a match buzzing with excitement. Pakistan, winning the toss, chose to bat first.
Their openers started cautious, but India’s bowlers kept them on their toes. Early on, Ashish Nehra dismissed Sharjeel Khan, giving India a crucial advantage.
The middle order tried to steady Pakistan’s innings, with Shoaib Malik scoring some vital runs. Rain unfortunately cut Pakistan’s innings short after 18 overs, leaving them with only 118 runs on the board for 5 wickets.
Chasing a modest target, India lost Rohit Sharma early. But then, enter Virat Kohli! Batting at number 3, he played a stunning innings. His unbeaten 55 runs off 37 balls were filled with amazing shots all around the ground. Even with losing wickets at the other end, Kohli kept his cool and led India towards victory.
With 13 balls to spare and 6 wickets in hand, India won the match, extending their winning streak over Pakistan in World Cup matches.
Super 10 Group Stage Match:
- Date: March 19, 2016
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
- Toss: India (elected to field first)
- Score:
- Pakistan 118/5 (overs – 18/18)
- Batting: [Malik (26), Shehzad (25)]
- Bowling: [Mohammad Sami (2/17), Mohammad Amir(1/11)]
- India – 119/4 (overs – 15.5/18)
- Batting: [Virat Kohli (55*), Yuvraj Singh (24)]
- Bowling: [Suresh Raina (1/4), Ashish Nehra (1/20)]
- Pakistan 118/5 (overs – 18/18)
- Winner: India won by 6 wickets
- Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India)
2021: The Drought Finally Breaks:
India and Pakistan faced off in the 2021 T20 World Cup match in Dubai. Pakistan chose to bowl first. India got off to a rocky start, losing big players like Rohit, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav early.
Even Virat Kohli, who scored a nice 57, couldn’t carry the team on his own. Rishabh Pant chipped in with a quick 39, but India only managed 151 runs in total.
Pakistan’s batting, on the other hand, was unstoppable. Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played like stars, scoring 68 and 79 runs, respectively. They didn’t lose a single wicket and easily chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.
Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled brilliantly, were the heroes of the day. The streak of India never losing an India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match finally ended. This match went down in history as Pakistan’s first-ever win against India in a World Cup match.
Super 12 Group Stage Match:
- Date: October 24, 2021
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
- Toss: Pakistan (elected to field first)
- Score:
- India – 151/7 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Virat Kohli (57), Rishabh Pant (39)]
- Bowling: [Shaheen Afridi (3/31), Hasan Ali (2/44)]
- Pakistan – 152/0 (overs – 17.5/20)
- Batting: [Babar Azam (68*), Mohammad Rizwan (79*)]
- Bowling: [Ravindra Jadeja (0/28), Jasprit Bumrah (0/22)]
- India – 151/7 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: Pakistan won by 10 wickets.
- Player of the Match: Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
2022: The classic India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match:
On October 23, 2022, a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed a nail-biting T20 encounter between India and Pakistan. Pakistan chose to bat first, posting a competitive total of 159 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.
Openers Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed were the top scorers, smashing crucial half-centuries. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
Chasing 160, India got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets. But then came the maestro, Virat Kohli. He played a phenomenal innings under immense pressure, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls. His knock was a masterclass in shot selection, with boundaries peppered all around the ground.
Epic Chase:
Kohli found able support from Hardik Pandya, who contributed a crucial 40. The duo stitched a match-winning partnership of 113 runs, bringing India within striking distance of victory.
The final over was a rollercoaster of emotions. With 16 runs needed off 6 balls, Hardik fell while trying to go for a big shot. Tension soared as the equation became 6 runs off 3 balls.
Then, came the turning point! Kohli smashed a high full toss from Mohammad Nawaz for a six, but the umpire called it a no-ball, much to Pakistan’s dismay. This reduced the target to a manageable 1 run off 2 balls. R Ashwin calmly hit the winning shot, sending the Indian fans into a frenzy and sealing a remarkable chase.
Kohli’s Masterclass Wins it for India:
This match will be remembered for Virat Kohli’s exceptional performance under pressure and his shot off Haris Rauf. In the words of Gerard Whateley, host of the SEN radio station, “This is a shot of an emperor,” and indeed it was. His unbeaten 82 was a display of grit, determination, and pure cricketing talent.
Super 12 Group Stage Match:
- Date: October 23, 2022
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
- Toss: India (elected to field first)
- Score:
- Pakistan – 159/8 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Shan Masood (52*), Iftikhar Ahmed (51)]
- Bowling: [Hardik Pandya (3/30), Arshdeep Singh (3/32)]
- India – 160/6 (overs – 20/20)
- Batting: [Virat Kohli (82*), Hardik Pandya (40)]
- Bowling: [Haris Rauf (2/36), Mohammad Nawaz (2/42)]
- Pakistan – 159/8 (overs – 20/20)
- Winner: India won by 4 wickets.
- Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India)
Next Station – ICC T20 World Cup 2024:
As we eagerly await the next chapter in this epic rivalry in the US, the memories of these past encounters continue to electrify cricket fans worldwide. Each match has been a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing the immense talent, passion, and unpredictability that defines India vs Pakistan cricket.
With history on their side and millions cheering them on, both teams will undoubtedly bring their A-game to the T20 World Cup 2024. Get ready for another chapter in this legendary rivalry, folks, because it promises to be nothing short of a cricketing extravaganza!
This time, the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match is all set to be played at Eisenhower Park, one of the three US cricket grounds hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup in America for the first time.
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