India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record in ICC World Cup 2023: Can Team India Maintain Their Perfect 8 out of 8 wins Record?

India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record in ICC World Cup 2023: Can Team India Maintain Their Perfect 8 out of 8 wins Record?

India vs Pakistan encounters in the cricketing arena have always been highly anticipated, with a history of fierce battles and electrifying moments. When these two cricketing giants meet on the global stage, it transcends a mere game; it becomes a clash of pride, passion, and tradition.

In the context of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cups, India boasts a perfect record against Pakistan. These cricketing titans have locked horns seven times in the World Cups, and on every occasion, India has emerged victorious, creating an imposing psychological barrier for their arch-rivals.

The first of these iconic duels took place in 1992 during the Benson & Hedges World Cup in Sydney. India triumphed, setting the tone for a dominant legacy in World Cup encounters with Pakistan.

Let’s revisit these historic contests:

Match 1) 1992, Benson & Hedges World Cup, Sydney
India marked their first World Cup encounter with Pakistan with a 43-run victory. Led by Mohammad Azharuddin and Imran Khan, India posted a target of 217. Sachin Tendulkar’s 54 and Ajay Jadeja’s 46 anchored India’s innings. Aamer Sohail fought valiantly for Pakistan, scoring 62. However, Pakistan was bowled out for 173, with Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, and Javagal Srinath taking two wickets each.

Match 2) 1996, Quarter-Final, Wills World Cup, Bengaluru
In a quarter-final clash, India clinched a 39-run victory. India set a target of 288, with Navjot Singh Sidhu scoring 93. Pakistan’s Aamer Sohail led the charge with 55, but his memorable boundary celebration was met with poetic revenge from Venkatesh Prasad.

Match 3) 1999, Super Six, ICC ODI World Cup, Manchester
India emerged victorious once more, securing a 47-run win. Setting a target of 227, India’s Rahul Dravid (61) and Mohammad Azharuddin (59) laid the foundation. Venkatesh Prasad’s fifer restricted Pakistan to 183.

Match 4) 2003, Pool Stage Match, ICC ODI World Cup, Centurion
Despite a transitional phase, India outplayed Pakistan. Pakistan set a target of 273, driven by Saeed Anwar’s century. Sachin Tendulkar’s exceptional 98 and contributions from Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid secured India’s six-wicket victory.

Match 5) 2011, Semi-Final, ICC ODI World Cup, Mohali
This semi-final showdown saw India post 261, courtesy of Sachin Tendulkar’s 85. The match ended with Pakistan being bowled out, and India clinched a 29-run victory, eventually lifting the World Cup after 27 years.

Match 6) 2015, Pool B Match, ICC ODI World Cup, Adelaide
Virat Kohli’s stellar century propelled India to 301, and Pakistan could only muster 224 in reply. Mohammed Shami’s four-wicket haul sealed India’s 76-run win.

Match 7) 2019, Match 22, ICC ODI World Cup, Manchester
Rohit Sharma’s explosive 140 set the stage for India’s imposing total of 336. Pakistan chased with vigor but fell short by 89 runs (D/L method).

As India and Pakistan prepare to add another chapter to their storied rivalry in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in 2023, the pressure is on Pakistan to break India’s undefeated streak. Will history repeat itself, or will Pakistan pen a new narrative on the cricketing world’s grandest stage? The cricketing universe awaits this epic encounter with bated breath.