Independence Day Special: India-Pakistan Combined Eleven

India and Pakistan celebrate their Independence Days 24 hours apart. Both the countries were a part of the same dominion but separated in 1947 as the Muslim League demanded for a separate nation. As a result, Pakistan celebrate their Independence Day on August 14, a day before India follows suit.

Well, over the years, the two neighbours have developed a feisty relationship. And the political tension has totally been reflected on cricket field. Any India-Pakistan game is much more than a fight between bat and ball. A good performance in this fixture can make a player an overnight sensation while a poor showing can make him a villain in a blink of an eye. Over the years, both the teams have given the world cricket some classic games.

So as both the countries celebrate their 72nd Independence Day this week, we take a look at the eleven best ODI players from both the teams:

Saeed Anwar:

Saeed Anwar was probably the greatest opener Pakistan ever produced. A classic left handed batsman, Anwar was known for his graceful stroke- play, timing and placement. Anwar has scored 8824 runs at an average of 39.21 for Pakistan. His 194 against India at Chennai during the summer of 1997 is one of the greatest knock in Indo-Pak matches. Anwar’s century in the 2003 World Cup against India is also a notable one which was later nullified by Sachin’s 98, who is second on our list.

Anwar vs India –   Matches-50 Runs – 2002        Best- 194    Batiing Average- 43.52

Anwar overall-     Matches- 247   Runs- 8824 Best- 194    Batting Average-39.21

Sachin Tendulkar:

Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman ever to have played the game of Cricket. This superman from India has achieved everything in cricket and holds almost all the records a batsman can possess. Sachin has the lowest batting average against Pakistan among all countries he played against still it is above 40. The reason behind it is because he faced the likes of Imran Khan, Waqar, Wasim, Aaquib and Saqlain when he was yet to touch 20 years age. He never failed to score against Pakistan in the World Cups and was Man of the Match twice against them.

Sachin vs Pakistan       Matches 69 Runs-2526 Best- 141 Batting average- 40.09

Sachin overall               Matches 463 Runs – 18426 Best-200* Batting average-44.83

Virat Kohli:

A modern day great, Virat Kohli could emerge as the greatest cricketer of the world. Thoroughly loved by both Indian and Pakistani fans, Kohli’s run scoring ability is so terrific that he is on the verge of scoring 10000 ODI runs even before turning 30. One can hardly imaagine where he will end up. Kohli averages over 100 in sucessful chases and has already has 35 ODI tons to his name.

Kohli vs Pakistan     Matches- 12 Runs- 459 Best- 183 Batting Average-45.90

Kohli Overall             Matches- 211 Runs- 9779 Best- 183 Batting Average- 58.20

Rahul Dravid:

Another ODI great, Rahul Dravid was considered to be the Wall of the team during his days. Dravid has scored over 10000 runs in ODIs and has the second most number of runs for India against Pakistan. He also scored two centuries out of which one came in a losing when Anwar notched up 194. Dravid also has 14 fifties to his name versus Pakistan of which 5 came in the last 7 innings he played against Pakistan.

Dravid vs Pakistan          Matches 58 Runs- 1899 Best- 107 Batting Average- 36.50

Dravid overall                  Matches 344 Runs- 10889 Best- 153 Batting Average- 39.16

Inzamam-ul-Haq:

Inzamam is considered to be greatest ODI player of Pakistan having scored over 11000 runs for his country. This tall, bulky cricketer was pillar of Pakistan middle order during the early 2000s. He was known for his strong pulls on the leg side. He has scored the most number of runs for Pakistan in Indo-Pak matches.  World Cup winning captain Imran Khan rated him the best batsman in the world against pace.

Inzamam vs India           Matches- 67   Runs -2403 Best- 123     Batting avergae- 43.69

Inzamam overall            Matches- 378   Runs-11739 Best- 137*    Batting Average-39.52

Javed Miandad:

Javed Miandad has played for 18 years for Pakistan and retired as one of the greatest Pakistani Test batsmen. A not-so-classic batsman, he was believed to invent the Reverse Sweep.  Miandad scored a good amount of runs against the likes of Kapil Dev and Maninder Singh and was always a pain for India. His last ball to Chetan Sharma in 1986 Sharjah Cup is still fresh in every Indian and Pakistani fan’s mind.

Miandad vs India          Matches- 35 Runs- 1175 Best- 119* Batting average- 51.08

Miandad overall          Matches- 233 Runs- 7381 Best -119* Batting Average- 41.70

Yuvraj Singh:

The Prince of Cricket, Yuvraj was the Golden boy during the peak of his career. Yuvraj could win matches with his attacking cricket, could pick wickets with his part time bowling and could take stunning catches to turn matches. Having won World T20I and 50-over World Cups along with being the Player of the Series in the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj is the all rounder in our list and somehow edge past the great Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi.

Yuvraj vs Pakistan   Matches- 38           Runs- 1360        Best-107* Wickets- 13        Batting averag- 42.50

Yuvraj Overall          Matches-  304         Runs- 8701       Best-150      Wickets-111 Batting average-36.55

MS Dhoni:

The greatest wicket keeper batsman cricket has seen. A street smart captain, versatile cricketer and a good finisher, MS Dhoni features in our list as the Wicket keeper of the team. Dhoni started his career poorly but immediately rose to the top with his swashbuckling 148 against Pakistan in Vizag. Dhoni was unstoppable with the bat when India toured Pakistan in 2006 and won the series at their soil. He was praised by the then Prime Minister Pervez Musharaf for his finishing ability and his fancy hairstyle.

Dhoni vs Pakistan                Matches- 33     Runs-1230 Best- 148          Batting average- 55.90

Dhoni Overall                       Matches- 321     Runs- 10046 Best- 183*        Batting average-51.25

Wasim Akram:

The Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram is an all time favourite bowler for most of the 90s kids. His ability to swing the ball both sides made him so lethal that he ended up taking 502 ODI wickets, the first bowler to do so. Such was his impact that he can feature in the greatest ODI XI on any day. Akram has taken 6 five-wicket hauls and was also handy with the bat. He has scored a monumental 257 against Zimbabwe in a test and six ODI fifties to his name.

Akram vs India        Matches- 48             Wickets- 60 Best- 4/35     Bowling Average- 25.15

Akram overall         Matches- 356            Wickets- 502 Best- 5/15     Bowling average- 23.52

Waqar Younis:

Waqar-Wasim was the most deadly pair Pakistan has ever produced. Together they took over 1000 wickeets across ODI and tests. Waqar Younis’ ability to reverse swing the ball that too at a good pace was unplayable those days. He could bowl perfect yorkers with a late inswing at will. Waqar has taken the most number of 5-wicket hauls in ODIs (13 times).

Waqar vs India        Matches- 26 25 Wickets- 37 Best – 5/31 Bowling Average- 24.48

Waqar Overall        Matches- 262 Wickets- 416 Best- 7/36 Bowling Average- 23.84

Anil Kumble:

Tall lanky leg spinner who hardly spun the ball but could use variation to deceive batsmen easily. Kumble was arguably the lone spinner who could take India home with his bowling during the late 90s. Kumble could ball six different balls in an over and could use the air well while the ball is in its flight. He has taken the most number of wickets for India against Pakistan (54).

Kumble vs Pakistan       Matches- 169 Wickets- 288 Best- 5/20 Bowling Average-21.78

Kumble  overall              Matches- 271 Wickets- 337 Best- 6/12 Bowling average- 30.89

Aaquib Javed:

An underrated bowler during the early 90s, Javed was a specialist in reverse swinging the ball. He was excellent particularly against the Indians and three of his four 5-wicket hauls came against them. Javed was the opening bowler for Pakistan in the ’92 World Cup which they won, and he was only 20 years old back then.

Javed vs India       Matches- 39       Wickets- 54       Best- 7/37   Bowling Average-24.64

Javed overall        Matches- 163       Wickets- 182          Best- 7/37     Bowing average-31.43