The ultimate rivalry: Reliving India's World Cup victories against Pakistan

Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar in action during the 1992 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan

"India-Pakistan clash is all about holding your nerves" is a cliche used umpteen times by experts and pundits alike, but the very cliche itself epitomizes the emotional roller coaster that the fierce rivalry truly is.

Although Pakistan can boast of a superior record over India in both Tests and ODIs, they have not been able to cope with the pressure that a World Cup game brings along. From 1992 to 2015, Pakistan have lost all of their six World Cup matches against India. Let us now go back in time and relive all of India's wins against their arch-rivals in the flagship event of cricket.


#1 Sydney Cricket Ground, 1992

The 1992 World Cup signaled a new era for limited overs cricket as the whites that the player had donned up until the previous World Cup were subtly replaced by eye-catching colored clothing and introduction of Day/Night games which added excitement to the contest.

The first of Indo-Pak World Cup encounters came in a tournament that saw Pakistan crowned as World Champions. They weren't up to the challenge against their arch-rivals though, as India comfortably defeated Pakistan by 43 runs.

Buoyed by young Sachin Tendulkar's brisk 54 off 62 balls India posted a fighting total of 7-216 in the allotted 49 overs. But the trio of Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar and rookie pacer Javagal Srinath helped by Tendulkar's economical spell in which he conceded just 37 runs off his ten overs and took a prized wicket of Aamir Sohail, put the target well out of reach of Pakistan. They were bowled out for 173.

However, the match is best remembered for Javed Miandad's epic mimicry of India's wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, after the latter's constant banter from behind the stumps. Though the antics were truly hilarious, however, it symbolized the first incident of Pakistan losing their nerves against in India in a World Cup encounter, laying forbearance to the future.

Result: India won by 43 runs

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar (54 runs and 1/37 from 10 overs)

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#2 M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, 1996 (Quarter-final)

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Indian team at the 1996 World Cup

The World Cup returned to the subcontinent after nine years, and the stakes of an Indo-Pak game could not get much higher when both sides met at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore during the quarter-finals of the 1996 edition. Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar helped ease early nerves for India with a first wicket stand of 90. The latter was dismissed by Ata-ur-Rehman for 31.

Sidhu scored 93 and carried on the momentum with sizeable partnerships with Azharuddin as well as Vinod Kambli. The game-changing innings was however played by Ajay Jadeja as he plundered Waqar Younus for 18 and 22 runs in his last two overs to lift India to a formidable total of 8-287.

In reply, Pakistan got off to a blistering start as Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad to all corners of the ground. The former was the primary victim as the openers took a particular liking to India's spearhead. By the time Anwar got out, Pakistan had already amassed 80 runs off the first ten overs. Sohail carried on with his merry ways as he brought up his fifty with an extra cover boundary.

A fired up Sohail looked at Venkatesh Prasad pointing towards the extra cover boundary. In the tall seamer's next ball, the left-hander tried to complete an encore of the previous ball. But he saw his stumps rattled. Prasad gave Sohail a fiery send-off and the wicket proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, as it triggered a middle order collapse giving India a 39-run win over the then defending champions.

Result: India won by 39 runs

Player of the Match: Navjot Singh Sidhu (93 runs)

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#3 Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, 1999

Venkatesh Prasad
Venkatesh Prasad picked up a five-wicket haul and ripped Pakistan to shreds

The off-field political turmoil and the eventual Kargil war dominated the subplots of the third World Cup encounter between India and Pakistan, played at the Old Trafford in 1999.

Pakistan had won nine of their previous ten encounters against the Indians and went into the Super six game as clear favorites. India batted first and thanks to some pristine batting by Rahul Dravid (61) and Azharuddin's (59) against arguably the best bowling attack in the tournament posted a respectable 6-227 in the allotted 50 overs.

It was a must-win game that too against their arch-rivals and the off-field tensions brought the best out of the Indians as they shot Pakistan out for 180, setting up their third consecutive World Cup over them in the process. Venkatesh Prasad was again the scourge for Pakistan as his accurate bowling ripped the heart out of their middle order. The seamer was duly awarded the player of the match for his career-best figures of 5-27.

Result: India won by 47 runs

Player of the Match: Venkatesh Prasad (5/27 from 9.3 overs)

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#4 SuperSport Park in Centurion, 2003

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Tendulkar's scintillating knock set the platform for India's successful run-chase

It had been three years since India and Pakistan last played a one-day international when they locked horns at Centurion in a group game in the 2003 World Cup. India, despite a massive loss to Australia early in the tournament had resurrected their campaign with thumping wins over Zimbabwe and England. Meanwhile for Pakistan, they had to win against the Men in Blue in order to stay alive in the tournament.

Bolstered by another classy hundred from Saeed Anwar (101), Pakistan posted a strong total of 6-273 in 50 overs. In response, Sachin Tendulkar played an innings for the ages. The Master Blaster's systematic assault, particularly on Shoaib Akhtar, put Pakistan on the back-foot. By the time they could fathom what had hit them, the match had already slipped from their reach.

Tendulkar executed every shot in the book that day from the delicious backfoot punches to sumptuous on and cover drives. But the shot that still evokes the memory of this game was the uppercut over the third man off the bowling of Akhtar. Tendulkar's onslaught dented the confidence of the Pakistani bowlers and India won by six wickets as Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh put on a splendid 99-run partnership.

Result: India won by six wickets

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar (98 off 75 balls)

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#5 PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, 2011 (Semi-final)

Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar obtained his third Man of the Match award against Pakistan in World Cups

Another World Cup in the subcontinent and stakes were at an all-time high when the arch-rivals squared off in the semi-final at Mohali in the 2011 edition. It was their fifth World Cup clash. Although Pakistan had topped their group and cleaned up the West Indies to enter the semi-final, India were clear favorites going into the game.

The match saw political diplomacy played out to its hilt with Prime Minister of India and his Pakistani counterpart in attendance. While bowling first, Pakistan had their moments. However, their fielding was quite poor as Tendulkar was reprieved on numerous occasions.

After Tendulkar eventually got out for 85, handy contributions from the lower-middle order anchored by Suresh Raina helped India post a competitive score of 260. Pakistan got off to an impressive start, only to end up throwing it away due to some reckless shot-making and incisive bowling by India.

With the scorecard reading 70/1, Mohammad Hafeez started the slump as he decided to play a weird paddle shot over fine leg. However, Munaf Patel's slowness didn't allow him to get the timing on the shot and the ball ballooned straight into MS Dhoni's gloves.

Skipper Dhoni then turned to Yuvraj Singh who prized out Asad Shafiq and Younus Khan. Pakistan collapsed in a heap and the match ended with Misbah-ul-Haq holing out to Virat Kohli at deep long-on.

Result: India won by 29 runs

Player of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar (85 from 115 balls)

#6 Adelaide Oval, 2015

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli scored a masterful century to subdue Pakistan

It was an encore to the 2011 World Cup game with only the venue changing its name from Mohali to the Adelaide Oval. Things weren't all in India's favour before the match. They had received a massive drubbing in the tri-series that preceded the World Cup and Pakistan probably had the most legitimate chance to break the jinx once and for all.

However, Pakistan's hopes were dashed by a certain Virat Kohli who scored a sublime 107 to take India to a healthy total of 300/7. In reply, Pakistan received an early jolt as Younis Khan was bounced out by Mohammed Shami. A 69-run partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail kept them afloat.

Shehzad's dismissal triggered another Pakistani collapse which had epitomized their fragile mindset against India in World Cup encounters. Misbah's late charge wasn't enough as Pakistan went down to India by 76 runs. This was the Men in Blue's sixth victory against their arch-rivals in as many World Cup encounters.

Result: India won by 76 runs

Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (107 from 126 balls)

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Edited by Ram Kumar