The rivalry between the India national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team has lasted for decades across all formats. The first Test took place in October 1952, when India won by an innings and 70 runs. From that moment to their latest clash at the Asia Cup 2025 final, where India won by five wickets, the rivalry has remained fierce.
Key takeaways include their first meetings in each format, dominant phases for both sides, and memorable tournament clashes. Below is a look at the major milestones in the rivalry.
Early years – 1952 to 1979
The first Test between India and Pakistan happened in October 1952. India won by an innings and 70 runs. During this period, they met mostly in Test series. Political tensions and infrequent tours limited their encounters. The first ODI between them took place on October 1, 1978, in Quetta, where India won by four runs.
Expansion into limited-overs and heightened rivalry: 1980s to 2000s
As ODI cricket became more popular, matches between India and Pakistan turned into major sporting events. The two sides faced each other several times in World Cup tournaments, and India stayed unbeaten in those games across many editions.
The 1996 World Cup quarterfinal in Bangalore remains one of the most emotional clashes ever. India’s win in front of a charged home crowd became symbolic of their growing confidence on the world stage. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, cricket between the two sides had matured into high drama backed by mutual respect, where stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Rahul Dravid, and Shoaib Akhtar wrote unforgettable chapters.
In 2007, another historic moment arrived. The first T20 international between them took place on September 14, 2007, during the ICC World Twenty20. The match ended in a tie, and India won the bowl-out event that captured the unpredictability of the shortest format. Later in that same tournament, India defeated Pakistan again in the final to win their first-ever T20 World Cup.
Head-To-Head records across formats (as of October 27, 2025):
Tests:
India and Pakistan have played 59 Test matches. India have won 9, Pakistan 12, and 38 ended in draws. The last Test series between them was in 2007, after which bilateral red-ball contests stopped due to political reasons and cross-border terrorism from Pakistan’s side.
One Day Internationals (ODIs):
In ODIs, Pakistan leads the overall record. They have played 136 matches, with India winning 58 and Pakistan 73. Most of these meetings happened in the 1980s and 1990s.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is):
In T20Is, India have dominated. Out of 16 meetings, India have won 13, and Pakistan have won just three.
Tournament showdowns and modern-era milestones:
The two teams have met many times in big tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy, the Asia Cup, and the World Cups. One notable result came in the Asia Cup 2023, when India beat Pakistan by 228 runs in Colombo, which is one of their biggest wins.
On February 23, 2025, in the Champions Trophy group stage, India chased 241 and won by six wickets. In the 2025 Asia Cup Final, India beat Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai.
Significant numbers worth noting:
Every decade of this rivalry has given fans unforgettable memories. From Minandad’s las-ball six to Tendulkar’s uppercut off Shoaib Akhtar in the 2003 World Cup, each match carried a story of pride and performance.
In 2004, India toured Pakistan after 15 years, marking a moment of sporting diplomacy. The series was played in a positive spirit, with both teams displaying friendship off the field and fierce competition on it. India won the ODI series and Pakistan took the Tests. The balance defined the healthy rivalry both sides sought.
The 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali was another historic chapter. India’s victory took them to the final, where they eventually became World Champions. Pakistan’s players received a warm welcome from the Indian crowd.
Recent trends
In recent years, India’s depth and balance across formats have made them more consistent against Pakistan. Their batting order, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, continues to dominate key games. On the other hand, Pakistan’s talents like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have brought freshness and flair, often pushing India to perform at their best.
Players were exchanging handshakes and pleasantries in the recent matches, but after the Pahalgam attack, things have turned sour. In the recent three matches in the Asia Cup 2025, there was a heated altercation on the pitch, as India did not exchange the customary handshake with the Pakistan players after the end of the matches.
Even after winning the tournament, the Indian players did not take the trophy from the hands of PCB and ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, which promoted heated altercations in the media between the two sides. The ACC Chairman has taken the trophy back and still refuses to hand it over unless the Indian players take it from his office.
Due to the absence of bilateral matches, there is extensive pressure on the players in these matches. The Political tensions limit bilateral series, but tournaments like the World Cup and the Asia Cup keep the rivalry alive for global audiences. Fans now experience these contests with greater emotional intensity than ever. Stadiums fill with chants, and millions tune in online to witness every delivery. The rivalry has evolved from a local contest to a global spectacle.
If we talk about the team, Pakistan cricket has stepped 10x time backwards from where India are at right now. The BCCI have a plethora of talented players to choose from their pool, and hence can make several teams for a particular format. However, Pakistan cricket suffers from Political interference in selection, and more or less that ruins their performance on the field. There is no stability in the leadership, and the domestic cricket is more or less destroyed. Lack of proper logistic facilities has also hindered their progress.
The gap will keep growing more as India and Pakistan will next face off against each other in the T20 World Cup in 2026. India and Sri Lanka are the hosts for the tournament, but Pakistan are set to play all its games in Sri Lanka, even the match against India. There was a written pact between the PCB and BCCI ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 that both teams would not even travel to each other’s country to play in multinational tournaments.
Final Take:
The India national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team rivalry spans over seven decades and continues to define cricket’s emotional heartbeat. It has produced unforgettable stories, shaped careers, and united billions through sport. Each game carries history, hope, and passion that few other sporting rivalries can match.
If you enjoyed this, look at their timeline, share with the era or match you think was the most thrilling. Would you like to see a full bilateral series return between the two sides? Drop your thoughts, because the story of India vs Pakistan isn’t over yet, and every future chapter will be written with the same fire that began in 1952.
