5 memorable wins for India over Pakistan in World Cup clashes

In the history of the World Cup, these two arch-rivals have faced each other 10 times and in all of them, India have won. World Cup or no World Cup, this fixture is of the utmost significance for both set of fans as these two countries share some history between them.Just as the Castrol Activ’s Actibonds Cling On to each other and provide protection and help the engine function perfectly, the Indian team and fans will be looking to relive their most memorable wins over Pakistan in World Cups for inspiration ahead of their ICC World T20 encounter so that they can #ClingOnToVictory.As India have won in all the matches in this fixture, the fans could actually choose their most or least favourite wins. Here, we focus on the five most memorable wins for India in this fixture -

#1 2011 World Cup semi-final

Sachin Tendulkar might have won the man of the match award for his excellent batting in this game. It was Munaf Patel, however, whose underrated heroics won India the game.

In a game where even India’s prime pacer, Zaheer Khan, was being hammered left and right, Munaf Patel took over the mantle and got the wicket of the dangerous-looking Mohammad Hafeez and brutal hitter, Abdul Razzaq.

After posting a target of 261, India knew that they had to bowl with discipline on a good track if they had a chance to defend the total. Pakistan started well, but Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel’s economic bowling, coupled with wickets at regular intervals in the middle period, restricted the Pakistanis to 231 runs, adding another win to their ranks.

#2 1996 World Cup quarter-final

This match will forever be remembered for the duel between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail. The hype surrounding this match was immense, with Pakistani fans more than confident about their chances. After all, they had a superior team to the Sachin-reliant team that India was back then.

However, ironically, it wasn’t Sachin who played a role in his country’s win.

India played with a nothing to lose mentality from the very beginning and posted a score that was in the mammoth bracket of those times: 287. Navjot Singh Siddhu’s 93 and Ajar Jadeja’s inferno of 45 off 25 balls helped India to a more than competitive total.

Pakistan, though, didn’t go down quietly and started their innings with all guns blazing. In the first 10 overs of the match, they scored 85 runs without losing a wicket. However, once Aamir Sohail made the mistake of taunting Venkatesh Prasad, the latter clattered the former’s stump—marking the beginning of Pakistan’s end in that game.

#3 2003 World Cup

Indian fans will forever remember this game for Sachin’s masterclass. This was perhaps the first time when Pakistan fans got the feeling that no matter what they do, they are always going to lose against India in the World Cup.

After posting a score of 275, Pakistan must have believed that this was finally going to be the game where the tides would change. With a bowling line up that consisted of both Shoaib Akthar and Wasim Akram, it was going to be an uphill battle for the men in blue.

However, Sachin Tendulkar had other plans.

He launched the attack against Pakistan and went gung-ho from the very first ball. One can still visualize the six over thirdman that Sachin hit against Akthar, in what became his most iconic shot in that World Cup. Akthar had the last laugh, though, as he finally got Sachin out for 98—but it was way too late.

#4 2007 World T20 final

This is the tournament where Dhoni showed the world the wisdom he possessed as a captain. While many would have disregarded Joginder Sharma, ‘Mahi’ brought the best out of him and that ultimately became the turning point of the tournament.

India were dismantled by a fiery Umar Gul, who took 3 wickets and gave just 28 runs in the process to restrict India to 157. Imran Nazir came and played in such a way that many thought the match would be over by the 15th over, but Robin Uthappa’s cheekiness in the field ran him out.

It all came down to the last over. Pakistan needed 13 runs off it, but had only one wicket in hand. The ball was placed in the hands of Joginder Sharma which shocked many, despite him having a great game. And when Misbah hit Sharma for a six in the 2nd ball of the over, Indian fans were fearing the worst.

But on the very next ball, Misbah tried the scoop and threw away his wicket, giving Sharma the glory he so deserved.

#5 2007 World T20 group stage

This is the mother of all India-Pakistan clashes. By far the most exhilarating encounter these two teams played against each other—and the closest Pakistan ever got to beating their nemesis.

At the end of the day, it was perhaps the mental barrier that stopped Pakistan from winning this relatively easy game. The target was a mere 142 after India struggled to post a total of 141.

So close, yet so far. Pakistan reached the line, but couldn’t cross it and the game ended in a tie. India didn’t lose a game in which they were on the backfoot for the majority of the time.

Once everyone realized that a bowl-out will be bowled to decide the winner, the excitement was back. In the bowl out, Pakistan missed the stumps on all three occasions and India hit them on all three, giving India the win and showing us another reason why bowl out is better than Super Over.