India vs Pakistan: 5 Most Epic Matches In ICC Tournaments

India vs Pakistan: 5 Most Epic Matches In ICC Tournaments. India against Pakistan is one of the most exciting rivalries in the game for a long time now and it just brightens up even more when it comes to ICC tournaments. Both teams have succumbed to the pressures and intensity of the games and the upcoming rivalry between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 does have a lot of expectations as well.

Due to the political issues going on between the countries, there isn’t any bilateral series taking place at the moment. India and Pakistan last met each other in the 2019 World Cup and it again went in the direction of India. Overall, in 17 matches played in the ICC tournament, Pakistan has managed to win just 3 games while India has won 14 games. Here are the 5 most epic matches in ICC tournaments between India and Pakistan.

India vs Pakistan: 5 Most Epic Matches In ICC Tournaments

1999 World Cup Super Six Stages:

This was in the 199 World Cup in Manchester as India won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the Super six stages. India started off really well with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid forming a good partnership at the top of the order. However, wickets in the middle overs meant that India could finish with just 227 for the loss of 6 wickets in their 50 overs.

In reply, Pakistan needed to bat with a lot of composure which did not happen and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. They lost 5 wickets for 78 runs at the 25th over-mark and never looked like getting in the run chase. Venkatesh Prasad’s 5 wicket haul wrapped up things in the end as India went on to win the game by 37 runs.

2003 World Cup 36th Match:

This game in the 2003 World Cup happened in Centurion as Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Saeed Anwar played a brilliant knock of 101 at the top of the order while the other batsman chipped in with a small contribution. Pakistan finished with a total of 273 for the loss of 7 wickets and it did not look like a tough ask.

India started off the chase with a bang from Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. The latter perished for 21 while Sachin kept the scoreboard ticking with his exclusive shot-making. Sachin was eventually dismissed for 98 off 75 balls and India needed nearly 100 runs at the stage with the required run rate intact and 6 wickets in hand. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh joined hands and helped India get over the line.

2007 ICC T20 World Cup Finals:

This will go down as one of the best India – Pakistan rivalries as the game got very intense towards the later stages. The all-important finals of the maiden ICC T20 World Cup took place in Johannesburg and India won the toss and chose to bat. Gautam Gambhir played the anchor role in the side with a brilliant 75 off 54 balls while Rohit Sharma finished off the innings with a quickfire 30.

India set a target of 158 for Pakistan to win and Pakistan was off to a disastrous start losing 2 wickets for just 26 runs. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and was down to 77 for the loss of 6 wickets. Misbah Ul Haq stayed calm in the crease and almost pulled off a victory for Pakistan with 6 to win from 4 deliveries. Misbah went for the fancy shot behind the keeper’s head and was caught at short fine leg to hand the maiden ICC T20 World Cup T20 title to India.

2011 ICC World Cup Semi-Finals:

This was a very important game as the winner had the chance to progress to the finals of the 2011 World Cup. India won the toss and elected to bat first at the Mohali ground and started off the innings well. Sachin Tendulkar scored a crucial 85 off 115 deliveries while Suresh Raina remained not out on 36 at the end to take India’s total to 260 for 9 at the end of 50 overs.

In reply, the Men in Green got starts from every batsman in the lineup, but none of them had converted into a big score and Misbah Ul Haq again proved to be the saviour with a handy 56. He was the last man to be dismissed and Pakistan ended up short by 29 runs in the end. All the five Indian bowlers picked up two wickets each.

2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final:

This was one of the unexpected games when Pakistan went on to dominate the whole match with a brilliant all-around effort. Pakistan batted first and put up a big score on the board of 338 for the loss of 4 wickets at the end of their 50 overs. Fakhar Zaman proved to be the surprise package scoring a valiant century.

In reply, India lost early wickets and was down to 72 for the loss of 6 wickets. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja brought back hopes with an excellent quickfire partnership. Hardik’s brilliant innings of 76 off 43 balls came to an end with a run-out and India ended up losing the final by a big margin of 180 runs. It will be one of the most cherished victories for the Men in Green against India in ICC tournaments.

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