Top 5 India vs Pakistan encounters of this decade

#4. 5th Match, Asia Cup (March 18, 2012, at Dhaka)

Virat Kohli

Pakistan batted first after winning the toss in this game. They got off to the best possible start as Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112) added a massive 224 for the opening wicket in 35.5 overs. Younis Khan then added to India’s woes, with a quickfire 52 from 34 balls.

Although India pulled things back a little towards the end with quick strikes, Pakistan still reached 329 for 6 in their 50 overs. Praveen Kumar was the most expensive of Indian bowlers, conceding 77 in his 10 overs, while Irfan Pathan finished with 1 for 69.

At the halfway stage, Pakistan were definite favorites, and their chances grew further when Gautam Gambhir was trapped lbw by Mohammad Hafeez for a duck on the second ball of the Indian innings. However, two generations of Indian cricket then joined hands as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli added 133 for the second wicket in quick time. Tendulkar fell for 52 off 48 to Saeed Ajmal in what turned out to be his final ODI innings. Kohli, however, went on to register his career-best of 183 from 148 balls.

The 2012 Asia Cup match was Sachin Tendulkar's last ODI

This was the time Kohli was beginning to make a mark as a chaser in ODIs, and this match saw the passing of the baton, in a sense, from an outgoing legend to someone who was heading towards the doors of greatness. With 22 fours and one six in his innings, Kohli made a mockery of Pakistan’s target and with help from Rohit Sharma (68 from 83), another ODI legend in the making, guided India to a comprehensive six-wicket triumph.