In sport, generally there is no such thing as a higher approach to put together for a fierce rivalry than watching reruns or studying summaries of earlier heart-stopping encounters.
And in cricket, there is no such thing as a larger rivalry than India vs Pakistan.
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The game’s historical past is embellished with historic India-Pakistan clashes at each match and in each decade.
With the groups set to meet again within the T20 Asia Cup 2025, Al Jazeera Sport picks the three India-Pakistan Asia Cup classics you need to revisit earlier than Sunday’s encounter:
2010: Harbhajan is a last-over hero with the bat
The 2010 version of the Asia Cup was a four-team match performed completely in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, the place all groups performed a round-robin group stage, with the highest two progressing to the ultimate.
India beat Bangladesh whereas Pakistan misplaced to Sri Lanka, making their June 19 encounter a must-win for the Shahid Afridi-led aspect.
Pakistan opened with a 71-run partnership between Salman Butt and Imran Farhat. A par complete of 267 adopted the common fall of wickets thereafter. India’s fast-medium seamer Praveen Kumar picked up three wickets, however it was Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin that stored Pakistan in test.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag opened the batting for India’s chase, and whereas Sehwag fell after an uncharacteristically sluggish innings, Gambhir stored going as captain MS Dhoni chipped in with a half-century.
India appeared nicely set earlier than Pakistan’s spinners struck within the final third of their innings. Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dhoni and Jadeja fell in fast succession, leaving India reeling at 219-6 with 49 runs required off 29 balls.
Decrease-order batter Suresh Raina had the accountability to take India residence alongside off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Raina hit Ajmal for 12 off 4 earlier than three economical overs from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Amir.
With eight runs to defend within the last over, Amir made a near-perfect begin as Raina ran a single. In a determined try and get again on strike, Raina had a mix-up with Harbhajan and was run out, giving Pakistan the higher hand. India wanted seven off 4, with Kumar dealing with Amir. A double and a single introduced Harbhajan again on strike for the ultimate two balls.
Harbhajan, who had an altercation with Akhtar a number of balls earlier, swung at a size supply, clearing midwicket for an enormous six. The Turbanator then turned in the direction of Akhtar and let loose a loud roar because the Indian dressing room celebrated wildly.
India had been within the last and Pakistan had been practically out.
Transient scorecard
Pakistan: 267 in 49.3 overs – Salman Butt 74 (85), Kamran Akmal 51 (41); Praveen Kumar 3-53 in 10 overs.
India: 271 in 49.5 overs – Gautam Gambhir 83 (97), MS Dhoni 56 (71); Saeed Ajmal 3-56 in 10 overs.
2014: Afridi seals it with two sixes and a kiss
The round-robin format continued for the 2010 match in Bangladesh.
By the point India confronted Pakistan, each groups had one win and one loss and wanted a win to bolster their probabilities for a spot within the last.
Runs flowed off Rohit Sharma’s bat on a fast Mirpur outfield, and India appeared on their approach to an enormous complete regardless of dropping Shikhar Dhawan early. Virat Kohli joined Rohit in smashing the Pakistani pacers.
Whereas Rohit went his merry means, India had been dealt a blow when Umar Gul dismissed Kohli for 5. Common wickets slowed India’s scoring price, however they nonetheless posted 245, due to a late flourish by Ambati Rayudu and Jadeja.
Pakistan’s top-order, significantly Mohammad Hafeez, gave them begin to the chase. Nevertheless, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than India’s spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra compelled a collapse worthy of Pakistani renown. 4 batters had been dismissed within the house of 42 runs.
Hafeez started the rebuild with Sohaib Maqsood in an 87-run partnership, however each had been dismissed in consecutive overs, leaving Pakistan reeling at 203-6 off 45. Maqsood’s run out, specifically, was a present for India after an enormous mid-pitch mix-up with Shahid Afridi, simply after Pakistan took the higher hand.
Afridi, the final recognised batter, was joined by Gul as Pakistan required 43 off 30 with 4 wickets standing. Each Afridi swing of his bat was met with trepidation because the all-rounder was recognized for trying huge pictures regardless of the match scenario.
At first, he focused Jadeja, hitting him for a 4 and a six within the forty sixth. The next over, from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, additionally introduced two boundaries earlier than Mohammad Shami stored Pakistan quiet within the forty eighth.
Kumar’s subsequent over, with two wickets and simply three runs, all however ended Pakistan’s hopes as Afridi watched on from the non-striker’s finish.
The ultimate over was handed to Ashwin, who had taken 2-31 in his 9 overs so far. The wily spinner gave India the right begin by bowling Ajmal first up. Pakistani followers held their heads in disbelief whereas India’s celebrated wildly.
Junaid Khan was final in, and he performed an ideal dab to pinch a single, bringing Afridi again on strike.
With 9 wanted off 4, the stadium held its breath realizing Afridi might sway the match both means.
As Ashwin started his supply stride, Afridi stepped again and swung onerous at a brief ball. The connection between was not at all perfect, however Afridi’s energy cleared the ropes.
Afridi once more gave himself room with the ball pitched nearer to his physique, however when has that ever stopped Afridi from enjoying a dangerous shot? One other wild swing skied the ball, however it once more cleared the boundary.
Ashwin was all hands-on-head because the Indian group stood in disbelief.
Afridi was all arms lifted large in his trademark star-man celebration as Junaid embraced him. A delighted Afridi gave Junaid a fast kiss on the cheek earlier than the star all-rounder was mobbed by his teammates.
Transient scorecard
India: 245-8 in 50 overs – Rohit Sharma 56 (58), Ravindra Jadeja 52 (49); Saeed Ajmal 3-40 in 10 overs.
Pakistan: 249-9 in 49.4 overs – Mohammad Hafeez 75 (117), Shahid Afridi 34 (18); Ravichandran Ashwin 3-44 in 9.4 overs.
2016: Kohli trumps Amir in low-scoring thriller
The Asia Cup 2016 was the primary performed as a T20 and produced one-sided group video games till India met Pakistan within the fourth match of the round-robin stage.
Pakistan misplaced Hafeez to the fourth ball of the match.
A poor umpiring determination, with Khurram Manzoor surviving a caught-behind, left India livid. Nevertheless, Dhoni’s group didn’t have to attend too lengthy for Manzoor’s departure as Afridi’s males continued to battle on a low-scoring pitch, dropping wickets in each different over.
In a complete of 83, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s 25 was Pakistan’s solely saving grace. Hardik Pandya led the assault with three wickets, however every of India’s bowlers chipped in, together with a then-fresh-faced Jasprit Bumrah.
The chase was seemingly easy, given India’s power-packed batting. Mohammad Amir, enjoying his first Asia Cup since returning to the group following his cricket corruption-linked ban, had different plans.
The left-arm pacer made a near-perfect begin, hanging Rohit’s toes with a swinging yorker, just for it to be adjudged not out. There was no surviving the next inswinger, which struck the pads.
Kohli was subsequent in to face the pumped-up Amir, swinging the ball to his will. A single switched strike with Ajinkya Rahane’s first ball ending up being his final, Amir swinging the ball again into the right-hander viciously to strike his pads plumb in entrance.
Amir’s second over, and India’s third, introduced extra lbw appeals as Kohli was struck on the pads by one other skilful supply that straightened, however did not impress the umpire. Amir had his reward subsequent ball, as Raina was the person to go, chipping a straightforward catch to quick mid-on.
Kohli and Yuvraj Singh noticed out Amir’s spell, nudging in the direction of the goal. Kohli, specifically, confirmed nerves of metal to see off Amir’s scintillating swing.
The Indian batting star quickly reaped his reward, nevertheless, settling in to take boundaries off all of the bowlers, together with Amir’s final.
India’s cost was halted within the fifteenth when Kohli fell on 49, adopted by Pandya, however the group complete was 76-3. New batter Dhoni and Yuvraj took six extra deliveries to complete the job.
India gained by 5 wickets, however the match might have had a nervy end had been it not for Kohli’s brilliance.
Transient scorecard
Pakistan: 83 runs in 17.3 overs – Sarfaraz Ahmed 25 (24); Hardik Pandya 3-8 in 3.3 overs.
India: 85-5 runs in 15.3 overs – Virat Kohli 49 (51); Mohammad Amir 3-18 in 4 overs.
