It took 17 years and four World Cups before India and Pakistan first met at the marquee event in international cricket. When they finally did, it signalled the start of an epic phase in the rivalry between the two.
India and Pakistan have met six times in the quadrennial event, with the former coming up on top in every single encounter. As the teams gear up to face for a seventh time on Sunday at Old Trafford, here is a comprehensive recap of all six encounters.
1992
The Benson and Hedges World Cup 1992 heralded a new era in ODI cricket, with coloured kits, white balls, floodlights, and fielding restrictions featuring for the first time in World Cups.
The ‘92 edition also featured the beginning of India-Pakistan’s World Cup saga, with the intense rivals meeting each other for the first time in World Cup-history.
Batting first, India scored 216/7, led by a young Sachin Tendulkar announcing himself on the biggest stage in ODI cricket with an impressive 54* (62). Pakistan lost two early wickets, but opener Aamer Sohail steadied the ship with a 62 (95). The aggressive Javed Miandad chipped in with a 40-run knock, but Pakistan eventually folded up for 173.
However, the most talked-about moment of the match came when an animated Miandad imitated Indian keeper Kiran More, whose frantic appeals frustrated the former.
Though they lost this encounter, Pakistan went on to win their first World Cup, led by an inspiring Imran Khan.
An animated Javed Miandad imitates Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES
1996
The second World Cup clash between the rivals came in a high-voltage quarterfinal in 1996, which had all the markings of a classic. The controversy surrounding Pakistan captain Wasim Akram pulling out of the match at the last minute only added to the tension that accompanies every India-Pakistan clash.
Electing to bat first in a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium, India put up a mighty total of 287/8, led by Navjot Singh Sidhu’s determined 93 and a blistering finish from Ajay Jadeja, who scored 45 off just 25 deliveries.
Stand-in captain Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar answered back by racing to 84 in just 10 overs. Shortly after this came what continues to be hailed as one of the most iconic moments of the India-Pakistan rivalry. Sohail, having reached his fifty, fiercely slashed the ball to the extra cover fence for a boundary. Before bowler Venkatesh Prasad turned back, Sohail walked down to him and pointed to the fence with his bat.
Sohail tried to replicate the slash the very next ball, but this time, the off-stump went for a toss and a fired-up Prasad gave the Pakistan captain a rousing send-off as the crowd erupted. Team India didn’t look back after that, with their clinical bowling resulting in a 39-run victory.
Team India celebrate their 1996 World Cup quarter final victory over Pakistan. | Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan
1999
The stakes couldn’t have been higher. When India and Pakistan met in the Super Six stage of the 1999 World Cup, the two nations were officially engaged in war at the Kargil district of Kashmir.
At this exceptionally tense backdrop, captains Mohammed Azharuddin and Wasim Akram led their sides to what turned out to be a one-sided encounter. After opting to bat, India got off to a steady start, before losing opener Sadagopan Ramesh early.
Rahul Dravid, determined to prove his ODI credentials, strung together two crucial partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar and Azharuddin, before departing for 61. Azharuddin then steered India to a decent total of 227/6.
The Pakistan batsman were hardly in the game, as the Indian bowlers put up a clinical performance led by Venkatesh Prasad who finished with a career-best 5-27. Pakistan were eventually bundled out for a mere 180.
Venkatesh Prasad finished with a career-best 5-27. | Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan
2003
Fondly remembered as an all-time epic, the league-stage clash at the Centurion between India and Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup was the first meeting between the two after a gap of three years.
Batting first for the first time against India in World Cups, Pakistan got off to a steady start before losing a clutch of wickets. The gritty Saeed Anwar remained unfazed and got to a well-deserved century, helping his side post a daunting total of 273.
India, who had not chased down anything above 222 in a World Cup encounter at that point, faced a massive challenge against an attack led by the fiery trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis.
Enter Sachin Tendulkar. The Little Master, who went on to claim the Man of the Series award, got off to a blistering start and lit up the Centurion with a flurry of boundaries. He fought through painful cramps to score boundaries at regular intervals, before departing for a classic 75-ball 98.
With the stage set, Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid guided India home to a thumping victory with 26 balls remaining.
Sachin Tendulkar drives Shoaib Akhtar to the fence. | Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan
2011
A shock exit for India at the group stage in the 2007 edition resulted in a eight-year-long wait before they met Pakistan, this time at the semi-final match in the 2011 World Cup. After a commanding quarterfinal over Australia, Team India marched on to the semi-final at Mohali in very high spirits, with a dream World Cup victory at home in their grasp.
Winning the toss and batting first in a pitch that got the ball to stop and turn, openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag got off to a flying start, before Sehwag departed in the sixth over. What followed was a string of errors by Pakistan’s fielders, who dropped Tendulkar four times, at 27, 45, 70 and 81. The Mumbaikar scampered to an unconvincing 85 before getting out. A crucial 36 from Suresh Raina led to India setting a decent target of 261 for the visitors.
Pakistan opener Mohammed Hafeez made 43, but India's display on the field was much more professional, with the bowlers putting together strings of dot balls and tight overs. The visitors put up a disappointing show as they ended up 29 runs short, while India went on to lift their second World Cup at the Wankhede.
Sachin Tendulkar and M.S. Dhoni celebrate the fifth victory for India against Pakistan at the World Cup. | Photo Credit: S. Subramanium
2015
The most recent meeting for the two, at the 2015 World Cup in Australia, was a one-sided affair. Batting first yet again, India lost Rohit Sharma early, after he was hurried out by Sohail Khan in the eight over.
Virat Kohli then put on a show for the Adelaide crowd, scoring a gritty 107 (126), ably supported by Shikhar Dhawan 73(76) and Suresh Raina 74(56). Some disciplined death bowling from Pakistan helped restrict India to 300, still a daunting chase.
The Pakistan batsmen failed to turn up, with the exception of Misbah-ul-Haq’s fighting 76(84). M.S. Dhoni marshalled his bowlers perfectly, tightening the noose at the right moments to dismiss Pakistan for a paltry 224 in 47 overs. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4-35.