From Javed Miandad’s match-winning last-ball six to Virat Kohli’s epic run chase in Melbourne during T20 World Cup, India vs Pakistan cricket matches have over the years produced several incredible moments.
Players of the two teams are again gearing up to create fresh memories as the two eternal rivals will take on each other in a World Cup 2023 contest in Ahmedabad on October 14.
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Ahead of the much-awaited match, we take a look at the five-most thrilling India-Pakistan matches.
1998, Independence Cup final, Dhaka
Prior to this game, Team India had managed to breach the 300-run mark in the 50-overs format only on two occasions. India registered their third 300-plus total in ODIs against Pakistan in this game and with this they defeated their arch-rivals to win the Independence Cup in 1998. Batting first, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 314. Sourav Ganguly kicked off India’s run chase in a great fashion, scoring a century.
With 65 required from the last ten overs, the contest went down to the wire. Hrishikesh Kanitkar emerged as the saviour, hitting a final-ball boundary to earn a three-wicket victory for India.
1996, World Cup quarter-final, Bengaluru
The 1996 World Cup quarter-final might not have been decided on the final ball but there was no dearth of thrill and suspense. Thanks to an on-field duel, which ensued during Pakistan’s run chase, this knockout game is still vividly remembered by fans. It was the then Pakistan skipper Aamer Sohail who gestured to Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad to fetch the ball after hitting a boundary in the 15th over. Prasad had the last laugh as he dismissed the Pakistan skipper on the very next delivery.
Chasing a challenging total of 287, Pakistan fell short by 39 runs.
2022, T20 World Cup, Melbourne
Ravichandran Ashwin did score the winning runs on the final ball but the 2022 T20 World Cup will always be remembered for Virat Kohli’s memorable knock during a challenging run chase. The former India captain remained not out having pulled off an epic innings of 82 off just 53 balls. With two runs needed to win off the final delivery India succeeded in clinching a thrilling win by four wickets.
1986, Austral-Asia Cup final, Sharjah
Pakistan, under the leadership of Imran Khan, scripted one of the most remarkable wins in ODI history during the Austral-Asia Cup final against India in 1986. Javed Miandad came up with a sublime century during Pakistan’s run chase in that contest. Needing six to win off the final delivery, Miandad hit a memorable six in Sharjah to record a thrilling one-wicket win for his side. He remained unbeaten on 116.
2007, T20 World Cup final, Johannesburg
The stage does not get bigger than this – a World Cup final and that too between India and Pakistan. The two met in the first ever final of the T20 World Cup played in 2007.
Batting first, MS Dhoni-led India put up a challenging total of 157.
Pakistan’s run chase went into the final over with 13 needed to win. India needed just one more wicket to be crowned inaugural T20 World Cup champions. Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq gained an upper hand for his side after walloping a maximum on the second ball of the 20th over.
With six needed from four balls, Misbah went for a scoop over the short fine-leg region but failed to time his shot properly. The ball went straight up in the air and S Sreesanth completed an easy catch to secure a thrilling five-run win for Team India.
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