The countdown for one of the most mouthwatering clashes in cricket has well and truly begun! In just a couple of days, two arch-rivals - India and Pakistan - will renew their fierce rivalry as the two teams will lock horns in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28 (Sunday) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan is not just categorised by the brand of cricket or the hostilities between players during the course of a game. The emotionally charged fans on either side of the border infuse an added element of intrigue, which is what has made this match-up a delectable proposition.
Ahead of Sunday's high-octane clash, we dive into history to take a look at some of the best India-Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup.
1. Drama in Dhaka (1988)
With the bat dominating the ball in modern era, low-scoring thrillers have become a rarity. But when a low-scoring contest goes down to the wire, it becomes an edge-of-the-thriller. Back in 1988, the two arch-rivals squared off in Dhaka and what ensued was an absolute nail-biter. In a 45-over contest, India bundled out Pakistan for just 142 runs after Arshad Ayub's magical spell in which he bagged five wickets. Defending a low score, the Men in Green bowlers came out breathing fire and reduced India to 76/3 and later 116/6. The match saw momentum swing like a pendulum but Mohinder Amarnath's unbeaten 74-run knock ensured a four-wicket win for India with 26 balls remaining.
2. 'Singh is King' (2010)
This was a game in which tempers flared like hot potatoes before India snatched the game from the jaws of defeat. Batting first, Pakistan were bundled out for 267 runs with three balls to spare. The target was not massive but a 270-run game in ODIs more often than not gets trickier in the latter half. Gautam Gambhir (83) and MS Dhoni (56) scored half centuries but Pakistan bowlers fought back by dismissing both Indian batters in the span of seven overs. Suresh Raina played a crucial knock of 34 runs in 27 balls and brought India to the cusp of victory but lost his wicket at the wrong time. And then, India found a new hero with the bat as Harbhajan Singh smashed two sixes under immense pressure to win the game for India with just one ball to spare. He raised both his hands in the air and roared like a lion, all this while looking at Shoaib Akhtar. A classic for the ages in Dambulla.
3. 'King' Kohli's coming of age (2012)
This was the last time Sachin Tendulkar played an ODI for Team India but it was his protege who hogged all the limelight. Pakistan posted a monumental score on the board with Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed scoring centuries. Chasing a total of 329/6 required an extraordinary effort from the Indian batters. Well, what ensued was an all-time great knock from a batter who evolved as the greatest batter in contemporary cricket. Virat Kohli's stunning knock of 183 runs in 148 balls didn't just roll out India's path to a six-wicket win, it also dawned a new era in Indian cricket. It was Kohli's magic in Mirpur in 2012.
4. Afridi goes boom-boom (2014)
Pakistan has managed quite a few wins against India in the Asia Cup but this has to be ranked as their best. On the back of three half-centurions, India posted 245/8 on the board. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals but their batters were still scoring runs. The match went down to the last over with India needing two wickets to win and Pakistan 10 runs away from a memorable victory. Ravichandran Ashwin started the final over in the best possible style by dismissing Saeed Ajmal on the first ball. Junaid Khan, who came out to bat next, found a way to get to the non-striker's end. With nine runs needed off four balls, the stage was set for Shahid Afridi's power-hitting and he didn't disappoint his fans. The right-handed batter smoked the next two balls into the stands and ensured a remarkable one-wicket win for the Men in Green in Mirpur.
5. Proper thrashing
In 2018, India and Pakistan faced each other twice and on both occasions, the Men in Blue emerged triumphant. In the second meeting, however, India pulverised their neighbours. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan smashed a century each and registered a 210-run stand that soaked the life out of the contest. India needed 238 runs to win the game and they did so with nine wickets and 63 balls to spare.
