New Delhi: “This is not a rivalry anymore” – these were Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s words when India hammered Pakistan for a second time in the Asia Cup last year before beating them third time in a row in the final to lift a record-extending 9th title. Though his words created a stir back then, they held weight. India only proved their captain right by winning the tournament in the final against Pakistan.
One of cricket’s oldest, historic and arguably the greatest rivalries has lost its charm over the years and corroded into a rather blatant one-sided affair, particularly in the World Cups. India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral cricket for over a decade, continuing to meet only in major ICC events and the Asia Cup. The lack of bilateral cricket has added to the hysteria surrounding their meetings in major ICC events.
It has also taken the sheen away from what once used to be a fiercely contested rivalry. While India have traditionally dominated Pakistan in World Cups, their overwhelming domination against the arch-rivals across all tournaments in recent years has made the rivalry a one-sided affair. The downfall of Pakistan cricket and the rise in the quality in India’s ranks have played a significant role in that.
Why India-Pakistan rivalry is a one-sided story in T20 World Cup?
The T20 World Cup is no different. India have dominated Pakistan over the years in the tournament, losing just once in eight meetings between the two teams. Right from the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, where India defeated Pakistan twice, including the final, the Men in Blue have held an edge over their arch-rivals in the tournament.
India vs Pakistan head-t0-head in T20 World Cup:
India 7-1 Pakistan
India’s only defeat against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup came during the 2021 edition, when Mohammad Rizwan and former skipper Babar Azam combined to guide the Men in Green to a flawless 10-wicket win in the group-stage match between the two teams in Dubai. India endured a forgetful campaign in that edition, suffering a group-stage exit.
However, since their defeat in 2021, India have beaten Pakistan nine out of ten meetings across all formats in international cricket. India have won all four meetings between the two teams in major ICC events since the 10-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021. India have eight wins in a row in their last eight matches against Pakistan in international cricket.
In their last meeting in the T20 World Cup, India defeated Pakistan by six runs in New York in the 2024 edition to send Pakistan crashing from the group stage of the tournament. India have won their last two matches against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. India have also dominated Pakistan in T20Is overall, with 13 wins in 16 matches between the two teams in the shortest format.
The stats clearly suggest that India have an overwhelmingly dominant record against Pakistan in both the T20 World Cup and T20Is overall. Though the records and numbers hold little significance whenever the two teams meet on the big stage, India’s superlative record will hold them in good stead and give them the psychological advantage ahead of their much-awaited clash in the T20 World Cup 2026, on February 15.
The two teams are set to lock horns at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. After a spicy build-up, which involved Pakistan’s boycott drama, the two teams will be hoping to give their all on the pitch to produce a memorable contest.