When India and Pakistan are put against eachother during a cricket match, it becomes more than just a sport. Roads are deserted, tvs are the only point of focus and stadiums tremble from the weight of the chants. The sport becomes more than runs and wickets. It becomes a matter of history and pride. And the rivalry is, without a doubt, one of the most defining ones of the generations.
The Rivalry in the Form of a Timeline
The memories generated from this sport rivalry is unrivaled. ‘s last ball s six Onshard in 1986 still echoes in the folklore of pakistan. More than a decade after, who can forget witnessing 136 runs from Sachin Tendulkar in Chennai during 1999, almost dragging India to the top but losing to 12 runs against Pakistan. That year, one of the most seen of the decade, Sachin gets a golden duck from Shoaib Akhtar in Kolkata right in front of 100,000 fans. Nothing else could compare to the silence that filled the stadium that day.
The new moves added in the 2000s included Sachin in the 2003 World Cup, Shoaib in 2003, and the 2005 double-break through Inzamam in Bangalore. The T20 World Cup of 2007 brought heartbreak to the fans when Misbah ul Haq let India take the trophy with a poorly timed scoop.
Changing fortunes
Every few years, there seems to be a change in direction. In 2014, Shahid Afridi clinched Asia Cup with two slashing sixes off Ashwin. Three years after that, Pakistan possibly put up their most complete display – destroying India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, owing to a stellar century by Fakhar Zaman and fiery spell by Mohammad Amir up top.
And then there was 2021, when Shaheen Afridi demolished India’s top order in Dubai. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then steered the ship and delivered a 10-wicket victory. It was the first time in history that Pakistan had defeated India in a world cup match, a moment that was also a gold star for Babar Azam’s captaincy.
More Than A Game
In Lahore, Karachi, Delhi, and Mumbai, the rivalry goes beyond the field. Neighborhoods become stadiums. Families reschedule weddings, markets close for the day, and friendships are put on hold for 50 and 20 overs of cricket. The entire region’s focus becomes one in a million.
But strained relations, and politics with each country mean that apart from Asia Cup and ICC tournaments, there are Afridi’s sixes, Tendulkar’s magic, Kohli’s runs, Shaheen’s lightning bolts, and more to daydream over.
What sustains its Stamina
Unlike other rivalries which fade away with time, India vs Pakistan remains evergreen. Every ball is drenched in the past. Every wicket re-imagines the narrative. Every win is a tale of its own. The players can change, the enthusiasm, never declines.
When the two sides confront each other, it is not a mere game; it is a phenomenon which attracts billions of people. And for a brief period of time, the entire cricket world remains, or in fact, stays still.
