India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline (1952–2026)
Explore the complete India vs Pakistan cricket timeline from the first Test in 1952 to the 2025 Asia Cup Final. Iconic matches, head-to-head records, legendary players, and key milestones — all in one definitive guide.
Overview: Why this rivalry stands alone
Few sporting encounters on earth carry the weight that a match between the India National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team does. When these two sides step onto the field, an estimated 300–400 million viewers watch — making it one of the most viewed sporting events on the planet, consistently rivalling the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup final in live audience size.
The rivalry was born out of the Partition of 1947, when British India was divided into two independent nations. Five years later, Pakistan made its debut as a Test-playing nation — against India. That first match in Delhi on October 16, 1952, lit a flame that has never gone out.
What separates this rivalry from all others is its perfect storm of ingredients: shared cultural heritage, complex political history, passionate fanbases on both sides, and the sheer quality of cricket produced when these two teams meet. Every boundary, every wicket, every dropped catch carries a weight far beyond the scorecard.
Since bilateral cricket between the two countries was suspended following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the two nations meet exclusively in ICC tournaments (World Cups, Champions Trophy) and the Asia Cup — which only heightens the pressure and spectacle of every encounter.
Head-to-head statistics across all formats
1952
Rivalry began
73+
Years of rivalry
200+
Matches played
9
Asia Cups — India
0
India WC losses vs Pak
Format Played India wins Pakistan wins Draws/NR
Test matches 59 9 12 38
ODIs 132 57 73 2
T20 Internationals 21 14 7 0
ICC World Cups (ODI+T20) 14 14 0 0
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, ICC, SportsHistori (updated 2026). ICC World Cup record includes ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup matches.
The complete timeline: 1952 to 2025
What follows is a chronological record of the most significant eras, series, and moments in the India–Pakistan cricket rivalry, from their first encounter to the extraordinary 2025 Asia Cup Final.
1952
India Win
October 16, 1952 — The rivalry is born
Pakistan, newly admitted as an ICC Full Member in July 1952, toured India for their first-ever Test series. The opening match was held at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. Captain Lala Amarnath won the toss, India batted, and won the match by an innings and 70 runs — a dominant debut for the hosts. India won the five-match series 2–1. Every player on the Pakistan side was technically making their Test debut.
1954
Pakistan Win
Pakistan’s first series victory on Indian soil
In a reversal of fortunes, Pakistan secured their maiden series victory in India, giving notice that this rivalry would be fiercely competitive. The political relationship between the two new nations was already adding an extra dimension to every encounter on the field.
1962–77
Hiatus
Cricket suspended due to the 1965 and 1971 wars
Following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the 1971 conflict that led to the creation of Bangladesh, cricketing ties between the two nations were completely severed for 15 years. The suspension underscored how deeply cricket between these nations was entangled with geopolitics.
1978
Pakistan Win
The great resumption — India tours Pakistan
After 15 years apart, cricket between the two nations resumed with India’s tour of Pakistan. Pakistan won the three-Test series 2–0, with Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Imran Khan emerging as dominant forces. The return of the rivalry was welcomed by fans on both sides of the border as a moment of cultural reconnection.
1983
India Win
Kapil Dev’s India win the World Cup — rivalry intensifies
India’s historic 1983 ODI World Cup triumph under Kapil Dev transformed Indian cricket and raised the stakes of the India–Pakistan rivalry to an entirely new level. The following year, India won a Test series in Pakistan. The 1980s saw the emergence of iconic figures on both sides: Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar for India; Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and a young Wasim Akram for Pakistan.
1985
India Win
World Championship of Cricket Final, Melbourne
In front of 50,000 fans at the MCG, India met Pakistan in a major ODI final. Kapil Dev’s bowling and Kris Srikkanth’s explosive 67 dismantled Pakistan, with India winning comfortably by eight wickets. Ravi Shastri won the “Champion of Champions” award. India were, without question, the best ODI team on earth at this moment.
1986
Pakistan Win
Miandad’s last-ball six — Sharjah, Austral-Asia Cup
Arguably the single most iconic moment in the entire rivalry. Pakistan needed 4 off the final ball. Chetan Sharma attempted a yorker; it became a full toss. Javed Miandad — unbeaten on 116 — pulled it over midwicket for six. The image of Miandad with his fist raised is one of cricket’s most replayed frames. The psychological impact was profound: India lost 40 of their next 62 ODIs against Pakistan. It was a moment that defined a decade.
1992
Pakistan Win
First-ever World Cup meeting — Imran’s champions
India and Pakistan met for the first time in an ODI World Cup at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. Pakistan won, and went on to lift the 1992 World Cup under Imran Khan. The Miandad–Kiran More episode in this match became one of the rivalry’s most talked-about off-the-ball moments. Imran Khan’s inspired leadership galvanised a generation of Pakistani cricket fans.
1996
India Win
1996 World Cup quarter-final — Bangalore
India defeated Pakistan in a high-voltage World Cup quarter-final in Bangalore. Navjot Sidhu’s batting and sharp Indian bowling kept Pakistan in check. The Bengaluru crowd was electric throughout. It was the beginning of India’s unbeaten World Cup streak against Pakistan, which has now extended to 14 matches across both ODI and T20 World Cups.
1999
India Win
1999 World Cup — India vs Pakistan at Old Trafford
Against the backdrop of the Kargil War, this match carried enormous emotional and political weight. India restricted Pakistan to 180, then Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar anchored the chase. Venkatesh Prasad’s spell with the ball — removing Saeed Anwar and dismissing Pakistan’s top order — remains one of the great World Cup bowling performances. India won by 47 runs and the result reverberated across the subcontinent.
1999
India Win
Anil Kumble takes all 10 wickets in a Test innings
At Feroz Shah Kotla during Pakistan’s tour of India, leg-spinner Anil Kumble achieved the near-impossible: he took all 10 wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, becoming only the second bowler in history to achieve this feat in Test cricket after Jim Laker in 1956. India won by 212 runs. Kumble’s achievement remains one of the greatest individual performances in Test match history.
2003
India Win
2003 World Cup — Sachin vs Shoaib, Centurion
Sachin Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar’s duel at Centurion became the defining image of an era. Pakistan set India a target of 274; Tendulkar hammered a 75-ball 98 — including a devastating six over point off Akhtar — to lead India home by six wickets. The match is widely considered one of the greatest individual batting performances in any World Cup. India extended their unbeaten World Cup streak against Pakistan.
2007
India Win
Inaugural T20 World Cup Final — India vs Pakistan
A young Indian team led by MS Dhoni met Pakistan in the final of the very first ICC T20 World Cup in Johannesburg. In a match decided by a single run, India won a thriller. The last over, bowled by Joginder Sharma against Misbah-ul-Haq, ended with a scoop shot caught at short fine leg — sealing one of cricket’s most memorable finishes. T20 cricket had arrived, and India–Pakistan had given it the perfect debut.
2011
India Win
2011 World Cup semi-final — Mohali
The most politically charged match in the rivalry’s modern history. Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani watched together in the stands at PCA Stadium, Mohali. Sachin Tendulkar’s 85 anchored India’s innings; Pakistan’s chase fell short by 29 runs. India went on to win the World Cup at the Wankhede. This match is remembered as much for diplomacy as it is for cricket.
2017
Pakistan Win
2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final — Pakistan’s redemption
At The Oval in London, Pakistan produced one of their greatest-ever performances against India in a final. After losing the group stage encounter by 124 runs, Pakistan turned the tables completely in the final. Fakhar Zaman’s century, combined with clinical fast bowling, saw Pakistan win by 180 runs — their biggest margin of victory against India and their first major ICC title since the 1992 World Cup. It was a moment of national redemption.
2021
Pakistan Win
T20 World Cup 2021 — Pakistan’s historic first World Cup win over India
In Dubai, Pakistan ended a 29-year wait for a World Cup victory over India. Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put on an unbeaten partnership, chasing India’s 151 without losing a single wicket — a 10-wicket win that left the cricketing world stunned. It was the first time Pakistan had beaten India in any edition of the ODI or T20 World Cup. The dominance of Babar and Rizwan at the crease that evening was a watershed moment.
2022
India Win
2022 Asia Cup — Hardik Pandya’s match-winning performance
India met Pakistan twice in the 2022 Asia Cup. In the group stage, India won by five wickets in dramatic fashion — Hardik Pandya hit the winning six and had also taken three crucial wickets. In the Super Four stage, Pakistan took revenge with a narrow win. The double-header showcased the finest qualities of modern T20 cricket from both sides.
2023
India Win
ODI World Cup 2023 — India win by 7 wickets in Ahmedabad
A sold-out Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world’s largest cricket ground — hosted India vs Pakistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. India bowled Pakistan out inside 43 overs, then chased their target down comfortably in just over 30 overs. India extended their unbeaten ODI World Cup record against Pakistan — a streak that now stands at 8 consecutive wins.
2024
India Win
T20 World Cup 2024 — New York showdown
The T20 World Cup 2024 brought India and Pakistan together on an unlikely stage — the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. India, led by Rohit Sharma, restricted Pakistan to a below-par total and chased it down without major alarms. The match drew global attention, marking cricket’s continued expansion into North America. India remained unbeaten against Pakistan in T20 World Cups.
2025
India Win
2025 ICC Champions Trophy — India vs Pakistan
The Champions Trophy returned after an eight-year gap. India and Pakistan met at a neutral venue, continuing a pattern of ICC-organised encounters that has defined the rivalry since 2013. India won, continuing their recent dominance in multi-format ICC tournaments.
Sep 2025
India Win — History Made
2025 Asia Cup Final — First-ever India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final
In one of the most historic encounters of the modern era, India and Pakistan met in an Asia Cup final for the very first time since the tournament’s inception in 1984. The match was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India had already beaten Pakistan by 7 wickets in the group stage of the same tournament. In the final, India prevailed by 5 wickets to claim their ninth Asia Cup title. It was India’s third win over Pakistan in that single tournament. No BCCI official was present, a detail noted widely in the press, but the cricket was gripping. The rivalry had given cricket another unforgettable chapter.
Five matches that defined the rivalry
Across seven decades and hundreds of encounters, certain matches stand apart. These five moments crystallise everything that makes India vs Pakistan cricket unlike anything else in sport.
“The rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket transcends sport. It is a mirror held up to history, politics, pride, and a shared love for a game that neither country will ever stop playing with absolute conviction.”
1. Miandad’s six, Sharjah 1986. The Austral-Asia Cup final. Pakistan needing 4 off the last ball. Chetan Sharma’s attempted yorker becoming a full toss. Javed Miandad, nine wickets down, with an unbeaten 116 to his name, launching the ball over midwicket. The reverberations lasted a decade. The shot defined a generation of Pakistani cricket and haunted Indian fans for years.
2. Kumble’s perfect 10, Delhi 1999. In their own backyard, India hosted Pakistan in a two-Test series. At Feroz Shah Kotla, Anil Kumble — wearing a jaw bandage from a previous injury — took all 10 Pakistan second-innings wickets. Only Jim Laker had ever done it before. India won by 212 runs. It remains one of the most extraordinary individual performances in Test history.
3. Sachin vs Shoaib, Centurion 2003. The 2003 World Cup encounter in South Africa was defined by the duel between Sachin Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar, who was bowling at 95mph+. The six Tendulkar hit over point off Akhtar’s express delivery became one of cricket’s most iconic images. Tendulkar made 98 off 75 balls to guide India home by six wickets.
4. 2011 World Cup semi-final, Mohali. Two prime ministers in the stands. A billion people watching. Sachin Tendulkar batting on home soil in a knockout match with a World Cup final at stake. India won by 29 runs and went on to lift the trophy. The match had the quality of great sport and the gravity of a diplomatic event.
5. Pakistan’s 10-wicket win, Dubai 2021. For the first time in any World Cup — ODI or T20 — Pakistan beat India. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten opening partnership to chase down 152 in just 17.5 overs was the kind of clinical, authoritative cricket that belonged in a highlight reel for decades. The result shifted the power dynamic and ended 29 years of World Cup dominance.
Legendary players of the rivalry
The India–Pakistan rivalry has been the stage on which some of cricket’s all-time greats built their legacies. Here are the players whose performances most defined this contest.
ST
Sachin Tendulkar
India · Batsman
VK
Virat Kohli
India · Batsman
KD
Kapil Dev
India · All-rounder
AK
Anil Kumble
India · Leg-spinner
JM
Javed Miandad
Pakistan · Batsman
IK
Imran Khan
Pakistan · All-rounder
WA
Wasim Akram
Pakistan · Fast bowler
BA
Babar Azam
Pakistan · Batsman
The modern era: 2013 to 2025
The suspension of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan since 2013 — a consequence of deteriorating political relations following the 2008 Mumbai attacks — fundamentally changed the character of the rivalry. The two sides now meet only in ICC events and the Asia Cup, always at neutral venues such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and New York.
This rarity has intensified every match. Without the rhythm of regular bilateral series, each India–Pakistan encounter carries the pressure of a final. Players know they may only face each other once or twice a year at most, making every delivery count for more.
India has been dominant in the modern era across T20Is and multi-format tournaments, though Pakistan’s 10-wicket win in the 2021 T20 World Cup and Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy victory demonstrated that this rivalry remains genuinely unpredictable. The 2025 Asia Cup — where India won three times against Pakistan including a first-ever Asia Cup final — was one of the most remarkable chapters in the rivalry’s recent history.
As both nations continue to develop world-class talent — from India’s Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah to Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and next-generation batsmen — the India vs Pakistan rivalry remains in rude health, ready to produce its next unforgettable moment whenever these two sides next meet.
Frequently asked questions
When did India and Pakistan play their first cricket match?
The first official India–Pakistan cricket match was played on October 16, 1952, at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. India won by an innings and 70 runs. It was also the match in which every Pakistan player made their Test debut.
Has Pakistan ever beaten India in a World Cup?
Yes — but only once, and only in the T20 World Cup. Pakistan famously defeated India by 10 wickets in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan putting on an unbeaten opening stand. In ODI World Cups, India’s unbeaten record against Pakistan remains intact across all eight meetings.
Why don’t India and Pakistan play bilateral Test series anymore?
Bilateral cricket between the two countries was suspended following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which severely strained diplomatic relations. Since 2013, all India–Pakistan matches have been played in ICC-sanctioned events (World Cups and Champions Trophy) and the ACC’s Asia Cup, always at neutral venues.
What is the most famous match in India vs Pakistan cricket history?
Many moments compete for this distinction, but Javed Miandad’s last-ball six off Chetan Sharma in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup Final in Sharjah is widely considered the single most iconic moment in the rivalry’s history. Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup in Centurion and India’s 2011 World Cup semi-final win in Mohali are also frequently cited.
Which team leads in overall head-to-head record?
Pakistan leads in Test matches (12 wins to India’s 9, with 38 draws) and historically led in ODIs. India has dominated T20 Internationals (14 wins to Pakistan’s 7) and is unbeaten against Pakistan in World Cups across ODI format, while having one loss in T20 World Cups (2021).
What happened in the 2025 Asia Cup?
The 2025 Asia Cup, held in the UAE, saw India and Pakistan meet three times — including in the final, which was the first-ever Asia Cup final between the two nations in the tournament’s 41-year history. India won the final by 5 wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, claiming their ninth Asia Cup title.
What happened in the 2026 Asia Cup?
india and sirilanka host asia cup 2026.pakistani cricket team play all there matches in sirilanka.
