India's Perfect 11 Against Pakistan at World Cup: A Recap

For a moment, Eden Gardens was stunned into silence. Mohammad Sami was on a hat-trick. Suresh Raina had just completed his embarrassed walk back to the pavilion, head bowed down. For a moment, it looked like India will lose its winning streak against Pakistan. It is no ordinary streak, mind you.It is one of the game’s greatest rivalries and India had a perfect record against Pakistan at the World Cups. 10 times the two teams met before – 6 times in the ODI World Cup and 4 times in the T20 World Cup. India had won each time. For a moment, it looked like they wouldn’t win this time.But, they pulled it off, thanks to a Virat Kohli special – a man who has made the adage ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’ completely his own. We celebrate India’s tremendous victory in the 2016 T20 World Cup at Kolkata with a recap of all its 11 wins.

#11 1992 ODI World Cup, Sydney

Pakistan would be eventual champions but in a dismal campaign for the Indians down under, the victory against Pakistan was a bright spot. Batting first, India set a modest target of 216 for Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar top-scoring with 54*, adding 60 valuable runs with Kapil Dev who scored a quickfire 35 in just 26 balls.

Pakistan were reduced to 17 for 2 but Aamer Sohail, who scored 62 added 88 with Javed Miandad to give Pakistan hope. But it was Tendulkar once again with the decisive wicket of Sohail. From 105 for 2, Pakistan lost their way completely. They faltered from then on and were 173 all out, losing by 43 runs, with Tendulkar picking up the Man of the Match for figures of 1-37 in 10 overs.

Manoj Prabhakar was brilliant with figures of 2-22 in 10 overs.

#10 1996 ODI World Cup, Bangalore

A match remembered for Ajay Jadeja’s stunning onslaught against Waqar Younis, one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers, the 1996 ODI World Cup Quarter-Final was an epic. Batting first, India had a great start with Sidhu scoring 93, and dominating a 90 run partnership with Tendulkar.

However, India lost their way a little bit towards the middle, being reduced to 226 for 5 on a batting friendly pitch. However, Jadeja scored a 25 ball 45 to give them a great boost. The score was pushed to 287 with Waqar and Aaqib Javed both going for 67 runs in 10 overs. Pakistan started their response in great style with Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar adding 84 in quick time. However, Srinath ended Anwar’s 32 ball innings two short of his half-century.

Sohail who sledged Venkatesh Prasad after smashing a four through point, lost his off-stump the next ball falling for a 46 ball 55. It is still a cherished memory for Indian fans, one of cricket’s greatest repartees. Pakistan lost their steam after that and while Miandad, playing his last ODI World Cup tried his best, Pakistan fell well short scoring only 248 and losing by 39 runs. Navjot Sidhu was the Man of the Match.

#9 1999 ODI World Cup, Old Trafford, Manchester

This was another low-scoring game where India scored just 227 in 50 overs, Rahul Dravid top-scoring with 61 runs and M Azharuddin scoring 59. Wasim Akram was sensational with figures of 2-27 in his 10 overs. However, Pakistan’s chase never got off to a good start as they were reduced to 78 for five by the 25th over.

Inzamam-ul-Haq resisted for a while but Pakistan were eventually wrapped up for just 180 runs in the 46th over, falling short by 47 runs. Venkatesh Prasad was the Man of the Match for stunning figures of 5-27, including the big wickets of Anwar and Inzamam.

Pakistan did make it to the Final of the World Cup eventually, India failing to go beyond the Super Six.

#8 2003 ODI World Cup, Centurion

This was a World Cup Indians would remember for Sourav Ganguly’s sensational captaincy as India shrugged off bad form prior to the World Cup, to record an impressive winning streak. Playing against Pakistan in a Pool A match, India were bowling first for a change.

Pakistan scored a challenging 273 on a good track aided by Saeed Anwar’s century. In reply, it was Sachin Tendulkar who played an absolute gem scoring 98 off 75 balls. His six over point to a short ball on the offside from Shoaib Akhtar still stands as one of the greatest images of the ODI World Cup.

India were 53 for 2 but Tendulkar added 102 with M Kaif. After Tendulkar’s dismissal on the cusp of a great century, Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid added an unbeaten 99 runs to take India home in the 46th over. India would eventually make it to the Final of the World Cup, losing to Champions Australia. Tendulkar was obviously the Man of the Match.

#7 2007 T20 World Cup, Durban, Group Match

The first India – Pakistan contest at the T20 World Cup couldn’t have been tighter. Batting first India scored 141, thanks to a half-century by Robin Uthappa after India were reduced to 19 for 3 and then 36 for 4. Chasing, Pakistan faltered to 47 for 4 before being resurrected by Misbah-ul-Haq.

However, Misbah fell in the last ball, run out making a dash for the winning run. It was a tie and the match was decided by a bowl-out where bowlers had to aim for the stumps and hit. None of the Indian bowlers missed and India took the game. Mohammad Asif was the Man of the Match for stunning bowling figures of 4-18 that came in a losing cause.

That wouldn’t be the last time the two teams met at that World Cup.

#6 2007 T20 World Cup, Johannesburg, Final

Another tight contest, this time in the Final of the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, kept the audience on tenterhooks. Batting first, India posted 157 thanks to Gautam Gambhir’s 75 in just 54 balls. Chasing, Pakistan were reduced to 77 for 6 and it looked like Pakistan will surrender without a fight.

However, Misbah-ul-Haq held one end up adding 27 for the 7th wicket and 34 for the 8th wicket to take Pakistan to the brink of victory. On 152 in the 19.2 overs needing 6 runs to win with one wicket in hand, Misbah tried to the scoop giving an easy catch to fine leg.

Pakistan were all out for 152, heartbreakingly losing by 5 runs to give India the first T20 World Cup. Irfan Pathan was the Man of the Match for figures of 3-16 in his 4 overs.

#5 2011 ODI World Cup, Mohali

In terms of significance, this was one of the biggest India-Pakistan encounters at the ODI World Cup – the Semi-Final. Batting first on a flatter wicket with short boundaries, India got off to a flying start thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 85 and Sehwag’s 25 ball 38.

However, India lost their way towards the middle even though Sachin led a charmed life getting several lives. India were reduced to 205 for 6 in the 42nd over before Suresh Raina guided India to 260. Wahab Riaz registered a 5-wicket haul. During the chase, Pakistan was cruising at 103 for 2 in the 24th over before they started losing wickets in a hurry.

Misbah-ul-Haq resisted till the end but he never received enough support from the other end. Pakistan were all out for 231 eventually, losing out by 29 runs. For India, Ashish Nehra was sensational with figures of 2-33 in 10 overs. Once again, it was Sachin Tendulkar who picked up the Man of the Match. India went on to defeat Sri Lanka to lift the World Cup.

#4 2012 T20 World Cup, Colombo

Playing in the group stage, the teams churned out one of the most one-sided India-Pakistan games at the World Cup. Batting first, Pakistan posted just 128 with Shoaib Malik top-scoring with 28. India chased down the target easily, with Kohli scoring an unbeaten 78 and adding 74 with Sehwag and 54 with Yuvraj Singh.

India won the match by 8 wickets with 3 overs to spare and Kohli picked up yet another Man of the Match. Interestingly, Kohli had also picked up the important wicket of Mohammad Hafeez in the match when India bowled first.

#3 2014 T20 World Cup, Mirpur

In a Group 2 match, India in imperious form restricted Pakistan to just 130 in their 20 overs. Umar Akmal top-scored with 33 but it was Amit Mishra with figures of 2-22 who earned the spotlight winning the Man of the Match.

Pakistan were looking at a lower total but for Sohaib Maqsood’s 11 ball 21 in the death overs. India chased down the total without any fuss knocking off 131 in 18.3 overs winning the match by 7 wickets. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina finished off the match with a 66 run unbeaten partnership after Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added a 54 run opening partnership.

#2 2015 ODI World Cup, Adelaide Oval

A match remembered for the spectators, Adelaide Oval was flooded with Blue and Green as India and Pakistan clashed in a Pool B Match. Batting first, India looked sensational, scoring 300 thanks to a Virat Kohli century supported by Suresh Raina’s 74.

India didn’t get the final push in the death overs but the score proved to be more than enough as Pakistan were all out for just 224, their biggest ODI World Cup loss to India, by 76 runs. Misbah-ul-Haq once again played a lone hand scoring 76 but he never got much support from the other end.

Mohammad Shami was brilliant for India with figures of 4-35 in 9 overs, but it was Kohli who was awarded the Man of the Match.

#1 2016 T20 World Cup, Kolkata

Although the scorecard doesn’t suggest so, this was one of the closest India-Pakistan encounters at the World Cup. Batting first, Pakistan posted 118, a challenging total on an Eden Gardens pitch that was turning square from the first ball.

Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal played lovely cameos but India pulled things back ensuring Pakistan didn’t reach 125 or 130 which they looked set to reach. India faltered early in the chase as Mohammad Sami’s double strike reduced India to 23 for 3 in the 5th over. However, Virat Kohli played a sublime innings making batting look easy on a track where every other batsman struggled.

Kohli and Yuvraj Singh added 61 valuable runs for the fourth wicket before Kohli and Dhoni finished things off with a 35 run unbeaten partnership. India knocked off 119 in 15.5 overs in a match that was reduced to 18 overs due to rain. Kohli’s 37 ball 55* won him the Man of the Match Award in a match he won on his own might and talent.