In sports, there may be no better ways to prepare for a fierce rivalry than watching a rerun or reading a summary of previous heart-warming encounters.
And in cricket, there is no greater rivalry than India vs. Pakistan.
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The history of the sport is decorated with historic India-Pakistan clashes every tournament and every decade.
The team will meet again at the T20 Asian Cup 2025, and Al Jazeera Sports will choose three classics from the Indo-Pakistan Asian Cup, which they will need to revisit before their Sunday encounter.
2010: Halbajan is the last hero of the bat
The 2010 edition of the Asian Cup was a four-team tournament that was fully held in Dambra, Sri Lanka, with all teams playing round robin group stages, with the top two reaching the finals.
India defeated Bangladesh, but Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka, causing a must-see encounter on Shahhid’s Afridi-led side on June 19th.
Pakistan has opened in 71 partnerships between Salman Bhat and Imran Farhat. A total of 267 followed by regular wickett falls. Indian high-speed mediam seamer Plevenkumar picked up three wickets, but it was Rabindra Jadeya’s left arm spin that held Pakistan down.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag opened batting for India’s pursuit, and Sehwag fell after a distinctively slow inning, but Gambhir continued as Captain Dhoni scraped it in half a century.
India seemed well set before Pakistani spinner attacked in the final third of the innings. Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dhoni and Jadeja quickly fell, and India got caught up in 219-6 with 49 runs with 29 balls.
Lower batsman Suresh Reina was responsible for bringing India home along with spinner Habhajan Singh. Raina hit Ajmal with 4 off 4 off 4 before three economic overs from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Amir.
With eight runs defending in the final over, Amir got off to a near perfect start when Reina ran a single. In a desperate attempt to return to the strike, Reina was confused with Halbhajan, exhausted and gave Pakistan the edge. India needed between four and seven people, and Kumar faced Amir. The double and singles brought Halbhajan back to strike and regained the final two balls.
Halbhajan had been in an argument with Aftertar in front of several balls, but he swung around with a lengthy delivery and cleaned up the midwicket with a massive six. The turbanator then made a loud roar towards the afterthal as the Indian dressing room was heavily celebrated.
India was the final and Pakistan was mostly out.
Short scorecard
Pakistan: 49.3 over 267 – Salman Bat 74 (85), Kamran Akumal 51 (41); Praveen Kumar 3-53 for 10 overs.
India: 271 in 49.5 over – Gautam Gambhir 83 (97), Ms Dhoni 56 (71); Saeed Ajmal 3-56, 10 over.
2014: Afridi seals it with two sixes and kisses
The round-robin format continued at the 2010 tournament held in Bangladesh.
By the time India faced Pakistan, both teams had one victory and one defeat, requiring victory to strengthen their spot chances in the finals.
Despite losing Shikal Dhawan early, India was plunged from Rohit Sharma’s bats in the fast Mirpur outfield, and India seemed to be heading for a big total. Virat Kohli joined Rohit and destroyed the Pacers of Pakistan.
India was hit when Umar Gul rejected Kohli with five while Rohit went on the hilarious path. The regular wickets slowed India’s scoring rate, but thanks to the prosperity of Ambati La Rayudou and Jadeha, they still posted 245.
Pakistan’s finest, Mohammad Hafees in particular, gave them a good start to pursue. However, it wasn’t long before Indian twin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra were forced to fall to the deserving of Pakistan’s fame. Four batters were fired in the space of the 42nd run.
Hafeez began rebuilding with Sohaib Maqsood in 87 partnerships, but both were fired for consecutive overs, causing Pakistan to swing from 45 to 6, 203-6.
The last recognized batsman, Afridi, was joined by the Guru as Pakistan set up four wickets and required 43 off 43. All his bat afridising was full of horror as all-rounders were known for attempting big shots regardless of the situation in the match.
Initially, he targeted Jadeja and hit him with 4 and 6 on the 46th. Below from Bhuvneshwar Kumar brought two boundaries before Mohammad Shami kept Pakistan quiet on the 48th.
Kumar’s next was two wickets and three runs, ending Pakistan’s hopes as Afridi watches from the end of the non-strikers.
The final over was handed over to Ashwin. Ashwin had scored 2-31 in nine overs so far. Wiley Spinner got off to a perfect start by bowling Ajmal first to India. Pakistani fans were incredibly choking their heads while India was being celebrated violently.
Junade Khan was at the end, and he made the perfect light-strike to pinch the single and brought Afridi back to strike.
With four offs required, the stadium held their breath knowing that Afridi could rock the match in one way or another.
As Ashwin began his delivery journey, Afridi retreated and swung violently with a short ball. The connection between them was by no means ideal, but Afridi’s power cleared the rope.
Afridi again brought the ball closer to his body and throws it to give him a room, but when did that stop Afridi from making dangerous shots? Another wild swing skied the ball, but it cleared the boundary again.
Ashwin was all practical as the Indian team was in distrust.
Afridi lifted his arms all up loudly in his trademark Starman celebration when Junade accepted him. Rejoiced Afridi gave Junade a quick kiss on the cheek before the star was attacked by his teammates.
Short scorecard
India: 245-8 in 50 overs – Rohit Sharma 56 (58), Ravindra Jadeja 52 (49); Saeed Ajmal 3-40 overs 10 overs.
Pakistan: 249-9 with 49.4 overs – Mohammad Hafeez 75 (117), Shahid Afridi 34 (18); Ravichandran Ashwin 3-44 with 9.4 overs.
2016: Kohli switches Amir in a scoring thriller
The Asian Cup 2016 was first played as a T20, producing a one-sided group game until India met Pakistan in the fourth match of the round robin stage.
Pakistan lost Hafees to the fourth ball of the match.
The judge’s poor decision enraged India as Kurulam Manzole survived the polar regions where he was captured. However, Dhoni’s team didn’t have to wait long for Manzole to leave as Afridi’s men continued to struggle on the pitch with a low score and lost all the other wickets.
Of a total of 83, 25 of Sarfaraz Ahmed were Pakistan’s only saving grace. Hardik Pandya led the offense with three wickets, but each of the Indian bowlers tightened up a tip that included a fresh Jasprit Bumrah of the time.
Considering India’s power-packed batting, the chase was seemingly simple. Mohammad Amir, who played his first Asian Cup since returning to the team after a corruption-related ban on cricket, had other plans.
The pacer on his left arm got off to a near perfect start, shocking Rohit’s toes as he rocked the yoker. He never survived the next Inwinger.
Kohli then faced a pumped Amir and swung the ball at his will. Ajinkya Rahane’s one-swer strike with the first ball was his last, and Amir turned the ball back to his right-handed and squealed his pads forward.
Amir’s second over, India’s third, brought more LBW appeal as Kohli was hit by the pads by another clever delivery that straightened out, but failed to impress the referee. Amir had rewards for the next ball. Reina was a go-goer so she easily made a catch and caught it in the short middle.
Kohli and Yuvraj Singh saw Amir’s spell and tweaked it towards the target. Kohli in particular showed steel nerves to see Amir’s sparkling swing.
The Indian batting star quickly earned his reward, but settled down to take the boundary away from all bowlers, including Amir’s last.
India’s accusations stopped when Kohli fell to 49 on the 15th and Pandya continued, but the team totaled 76-3. New batters Dhoni and Yuvraj completed the work with six more deliveries.
India won with five wickets, but if not for Kohli’s brilliance, the match could have had a nervous finish.
Short scorecard
Pakistan: 83 runs in 17.3 overs – Sulfaraz Ahmed 25 (24); Hardik Pandia 3-8, 3.3 overs.
India: 85-5 runs at 15.3 overs – Virat Kohli 49 (51); Mohammad Amir 3-18 for 4 overs.
