India-Pakistan encounters have always been keenly awaited. This rivalry has seen a lot, both off and on the field.
From Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul to Sachin Tendulkar's hundred in a losing cause in the Chennai Test to Saeed Anwar's 194, the India-Pakistan rivalry has been strewn with some outstanding performances by players from both sides.
The arch-rivals have played a number of memorable matches over the years, especially in 50-overs cricket. Here are a few reminders.
1985, Sharjah - India won by 38 runs
India were bowled out for a meager 38 runs (or 138?) by Pakistan and were morally down. Led by none other than Kapil Dev who took 3 wicket off 17 balls, the Indians dismissed Pakistan for just 87 to clinch a low-scoring thriller.
1986, Sharjah - Pakistan won by 1 wicket
This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments in the history of the India-Pakistan cricketing journey, as well as one of the best in the history of the one-day game.
It was a Javed Miandad special! Pakistan were chasing 246 against India in the AustralAsia Cup final against India and they needed four off the last ball.
Chetan Sharma was a mean customer and was accurate enough to deliver victory under those circumstances. But up against Miandad's will and doggedness, Sharma was no match. The wily batsman, on 110, smashed the waist-high full-toss over the ropes.
1987, Kolkata - Pakistan won by 2 wickets
The wounds of Sharjah barely a year old when India met Pakistan again, this time on home turf. Javed Miandad couldn't repeat his heroics this time, but Saleem Malik trumped India with a 72 from 36 balls.
1987, Hyderabad - Tied game, India declared winners
One of the rare matches where the score was tied at 212 after playing 50 overs. However, India, who had lost six wickets in getting to that total in the first innings, won the match by the virtue of losing one wicket less than Pakistan.
1991, Sharjah - Pakistan won by 72 runs
Aaqib Javed ran through the Indian batting with figures of 7-37, including a hat-trick. It was the best spells of fast bowling ever recorded in one-day cricket history.
1996, Bangalore - India won by 29 runs
Ajay Jadeja displayed some excellent batting against Pakistan in this game. Waqar Younis, the quickest of his time, was struck and taken to the cleaners, giving India the crucial edge that eventually secured victory.
1997, Chennai - Pakistan won by 35 runs
Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar made merry by scoring 194 runs, the then highest score in ODIs, off just 145 balls. Anwar had broken the record held by West Indies great Viv Richards.
Anwar had hamstring issues and the heat had drained him. However, with the help of a runner - Shahid Afridi - Anwar managed to hold on and punish the Indian attack. Anwar was well on course for the first double century in ODI cricket. Anwar though was dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar, who later went on to own the record.
2003, Centurion - India won by 6 wickets
Another memorable match, made special by Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's assault on Pakistan's bowlers, especially Shoaib Akhtar. A target of 273 runs was made to look rather pedestrian thanks to a brilliant display by India's batsmen.
2004, Lahore - India won by 5 wickets
India's hopes were reduced to a flicker by Inzamam-ul-Haq's brilliant 123 in this must-win game. But a strong middle order performance, especially by Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid saw India through to a victory.
2005, Visakhapatnam - India won by 58 runs
Indian former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's innings in Visakhapatnam against Pakistan was like a highly entertaining commercial movie. It was over in three hours, it had all the elements which most fans would enjoy but purists would not. Dhoni occasionally played textbook shots. More often than not, he inflicted brutal blows.
Dhoni's 148 came off just 123 balls. It included 15 boundaries, five big sixes. More importantly, the five innings-old player was proving to be the solution for India's issues with under-performing wicketkeeper-batsmen.
From Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul to Sachin Tendulkar's hundred in a losing cause in the Chennai Test to Saeed Anwar's 194, the India-Pakistan rivalry has been strewn with some outstanding performances by players from both sides.
The arch-rivals have played a number of memorable matches over the years, especially in 50-overs cricket. Here are a few reminders.
1985, Sharjah - India won by 38 runs
India were bowled out for a meager 38 runs (or 138?) by Pakistan and were morally down. Led by none other than Kapil Dev who took 3 wicket off 17 balls, the Indians dismissed Pakistan for just 87 to clinch a low-scoring thriller.
1986, Sharjah - Pakistan won by 1 wicket
This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments in the history of the India-Pakistan cricketing journey, as well as one of the best in the history of the one-day game.
It was a Javed Miandad special! Pakistan were chasing 246 against India in the AustralAsia Cup final against India and they needed four off the last ball.
Chetan Sharma was a mean customer and was accurate enough to deliver victory under those circumstances. But up against Miandad's will and doggedness, Sharma was no match. The wily batsman, on 110, smashed the waist-high full-toss over the ropes.
1987, Kolkata - Pakistan won by 2 wickets
The wounds of Sharjah barely a year old when India met Pakistan again, this time on home turf. Javed Miandad couldn't repeat his heroics this time, but Saleem Malik trumped India with a 72 from 36 balls.
1987, Hyderabad - Tied game, India declared winners
One of the rare matches where the score was tied at 212 after playing 50 overs. However, India, who had lost six wickets in getting to that total in the first innings, won the match by the virtue of losing one wicket less than Pakistan.
1991, Sharjah - Pakistan won by 72 runs
Aaqib Javed ran through the Indian batting with figures of 7-37, including a hat-trick. It was the best spells of fast bowling ever recorded in one-day cricket history.
1996, Bangalore - India won by 29 runs
Ajay Jadeja displayed some excellent batting against Pakistan in this game. Waqar Younis, the quickest of his time, was struck and taken to the cleaners, giving India the crucial edge that eventually secured victory.
1997, Chennai - Pakistan won by 35 runs
Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar made merry by scoring 194 runs, the then highest score in ODIs, off just 145 balls. Anwar had broken the record held by West Indies great Viv Richards.
Anwar had hamstring issues and the heat had drained him. However, with the help of a runner - Shahid Afridi - Anwar managed to hold on and punish the Indian attack. Anwar was well on course for the first double century in ODI cricket. Anwar though was dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar, who later went on to own the record.
2003, Centurion - India won by 6 wickets
Another memorable match, made special by Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's assault on Pakistan's bowlers, especially Shoaib Akhtar. A target of 273 runs was made to look rather pedestrian thanks to a brilliant display by India's batsmen.
2004, Lahore - India won by 5 wickets
India's hopes were reduced to a flicker by Inzamam-ul-Haq's brilliant 123 in this must-win game. But a strong middle order performance, especially by Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid saw India through to a victory.
2005, Visakhapatnam - India won by 58 runs
Indian former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's innings in Visakhapatnam against Pakistan was like a highly entertaining commercial movie. It was over in three hours, it had all the elements which most fans would enjoy but purists would not. Dhoni occasionally played textbook shots. More often than not, he inflicted brutal blows.
Dhoni's 148 came off just 123 balls. It included 15 boundaries, five big sixes. More importantly, the five innings-old player was proving to be the solution for India's issues with under-performing wicketkeeper-batsmen.
