Down Memory Lane: India vs Pakistan, ICC World Cup 2015

Exactly 4 years ago. 15th February 2015. The second day of the 2015 ICC World Cup.

Two of the fiercest rivals, India and Pakistan locked horns in front of a jam-packed Adelaide Oval crowd, full of Indian and Pakistani fans. The atmosphere seemed just like Sharjah of the 1990s as MS Dhoni and Misbah-ul-Haq came out for the toss.

It was the Indian captain who won the toss and elected to bat first. India had never ever lost to their arch-rivals in a World Cup fixture and the Men in Blue looked confident to continue their undefeated streak but the Indian team was coming off a disastrous few months Down Under, thus making the Men in Green the favourites to win.

The Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided a sound start to the team as they added 34 runs for the opening wicket before rookie Pakistani pacer Sohail Khan dismissed Rohit Sharma. In came Virat Kohli at No.3, with the hopes of the entire nation on his shoulders.

The two Delhites, Dhawan and Kohli formed a magnificent partnership of 129 runs and took the Indian team total close to 200. However, a confusion between the two batsmen in the middle led to Shikhar Dhawan getting run out and losing his wicket.

Suresh Raina joined Kohli next as the two Indian stalwarts continued the onslaught on the Pakistani bowling attack. Soon, Kohli neared his hundred as both the batsmen changed their gears. Raina worked himself to a quick half-century and from the other end, watched his mate Virat Kohli reach the 100 run milestone.

India v Pakistan - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

It looked like India would easily set a target of 350+ for their opponents, but Sohail Khan derails the Indian innings by scalping the wickets of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession. Suffering a late collapse, the Indian team posted a total of 300 on the board.

Chasing 301, the Pakistani team never looked in the chase as their top order failed to score runs at a quick rate. The innings run-rate never crossed over 5 and despite Misbah-ul-Haq's heroic innings in the middle, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the end.

Pakistan folded for 224 inside 47 overs as India won the match by 76 runs. Mohammed Shami emerged as the hero of the Indian bowling attack as the speedster accounted for 4 Pakistani wickets in his spell of 9 overs.

India maintained its unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups. Virat Kohli was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb innings.

Pakistan will try to break the streak once again on 16th June 2019 when they will take on India in the ICC World Cup.

Will India maintain its clinical World Cup record against Pakistan this year? Share your views in the comments box below.