India and Pakistan are two of the most iconic rivalries in history, not just in cricket but in general. Watching these two teams go up against each other is always a feat. It is always a high-voltage encounter with lots of iconic moments, owing to the overflowing emotions of the spectators and the political tension between the neighboring countries. The match between India and Pakistan is more than just a cricket match; the people of both countries take pride in their respective countries' victories. Here are ten of the many unforgettable moments from the India-Pakistan matches over the past years:-
10. 1989: 212 V/s 212
India and Pakistan clashed off in one of their most controversial matches on March 20, 1987. In the third One-Day International in Hyderabad, the game was limited from 50 to 44 overs, and India scored 212/6. Pakistan was on the verge of victory, requiring only two runs from the final ball, but Abdul Qadir rushed to claim an impossible second run and got ran out, leaving Pakistan with a score of 212/7. It was also the reason behind India’s victory as they lost fewer wickets! Also, the umpires missed a foul in India's fielding positions during the final delivery when only three players were within the circle, giving India a lucky win!
9. 2007: Pakistan’s Successful Ohase Of 322
Pakistan snatched the win from India in another dramatic match between the two arch-rivals, as they chased down the target of 322 with four wickets and only one ball remaining! In 2007 in the third ODI of Pakistan tour of India in Mohali, India set a comfortable target of 321 with Sachin Tendulkar's magnificent 99 and restricted Pakistan to 81/2 in the first 15 overs. But Younis Khan's brilliant knock of 117 helped Pakistan win the match.
8. 2012: A Kohli Masterclass
A young Kohli demonstrated his talent in a 330-run chase against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in 2012. Pakistan scored 330 runs against India, one of their most significant totals, thanks to a stunning opening partnership of 224 runs. India remained strong despite losing an early wicket, as Kohli hammered 183 runs from 148 balls! His innings featured twenty-two 4s and one 6, making it his highest score in an ODI. With six wickets in hand, India won the match.
7. 2014: Shahid Afridi Heroic Innings
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the sixth match of the 2014 Asia Cup in Dhaka, and India set a target of 246. With ten runs needed from the last over, Shahid Afridi went all out, hitting two consecutive sixes to help Pakistan win the match with two balls remaining. Afridi's match-winning innings of 38 (18) had a strike rate of over 188, two 4s, and three 6s.
6. 2007: The Bowl-out
Another tie between the rivals where India claimed victory once more! In a group stage encounter at the 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup, Pakistan held India to 141 runs. The contest took an intriguing turn when Pakistan scored just enough to draw the game. A bowl out determined the winner, and India won by 3-0 courtesy to Pakistan missing their first three opportunities and India striking them all.
5. 1992: Javed Miandad’s Jumping Incident
It is one of the most vivid moments from the India-Pakistan match. During the 1992 ICC World Cup, the first match between India and Pakistan, Javed Miandad and former Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More got into a heated argument. Miandad was enraged when More appealed for a catch, and to express his displeasure, he began jumping near the stumps in a mocking attempt to imitate More.
4. 2006: Pakistan’s 0/3
On January 29, 2006, Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a hat trick in the first over of a Test match in one of the most notable matches in the India-Pakistan test series. After the first over, Pakistan was at a humiliating score of 0/3! Despite this, the men in green caught up and played brilliantly for the rest of the match, winning by 341 runs!
3. 1996: Venkatesh Prasad V/s Aamer Sohail
Another epic incident in Indo-Pak cricket history that Indian supporters would never forget! Venkatesh Prasad came to bowl in the 15th over of the ICC World Cup quarter-final in 1996. On the fifth ball of the over, Sohail hit him for a four and tried to intimidate Prasad by making a gesture with his bat and exchanging some words, but on the next ball, Prasad clean bowled Sohail, and took his revenge in the best way possible!
2. 2007: Icc T20 World Cup Final
In a thrilling first T20 World Cup final, the arch-rivals faced off against one other. India batted first and set a 158-run target. Pakistan reached 149/9 at the end of the 19th over, needing 13 runs from the last over. When MS Dhoni, who was captaining India for the first time, handed the ball to an inexperienced Joginder Sharma, everyone was surprised. Proving Dhoni right, Sharma claimed Pakistan's final wicket despite delivering a wide ball and being struck for a six, and India won by five runs!
1. 1989: 16 Years Old Sachin’s 6, 0,4,6,6,6 In An Over
Due to poor lighting, the first ODI between India and Pakistan at Peshawar was initially cancelled, but a 20-over exhibition match was arranged to please the fans. Making his debut in the limited-overs format, the 16-year-old Sachin drew the attention of the entire nation. Abdul Qadir became annoyed after Sachin struck a couple of sixes off Mushtaq Ahmed's over and told Sachin to try and hit him instead. Sachin answered with a 6,0,4,6,6,6 in Qadir's over!