5 Best knocks from India vs Pakistan matches in men’s T20 World Cup history
The ICC on Friday (January 21) confirmed that arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be facing each other at another men’s T20 World Cup this year. The two neighbouring countries will clash in their opening game of the Super 12 round in Australia on October 23 at the iconic MCG.
This will be the sixth occasion in the eight-edition-long history of the T20 World Cup that India and Pakistan will face each other. Of the five previous encounters, India have won three, with one tie and Pakistan winning one.
Pakistan broke their longstanding jinx at ICC World Cups against India last year when they comprehensively defeated their Asian rivals in Dubai. They’ll taken lot of confidence from their performance and victory into the marquee MCG clash later this year. For Indians, however, it will be a chance to make amends and reassert their dominance.
But before heading there, let’s reminisce the five best knocks played in the famous India-Pakistan clashes at the T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir in the middle of his famous T20 World Cup finale knock against Pakistan.
Best knocks from India vs Pakistan matches in men’s T20 World Cup
1. Misbah-ul-Haq 43 off 38 in Johannesburg
Most famous act of revival that couldn’t reach its desired finish. Misbah-ul-Haq’s lone-ranger knock maybe most remembered for the miscued scoop he played to be hauled out and change the T20 landscape forever. But keep the result aside for a second, and it emerges as one of the finest knocks played in T20Is.
Misbah almost singlehandedly took Pakistan to the maiden T20 World Cup crown after walking in at 4/65 with the game quickly slipping away. His calculated assault on a spirited Indian attack should be lauded without excessive emphasis on how it ended.
2. Gautam Gambhir, 75 off 54 in Johannesburg
In the first half of the famous finale all those years back, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir played one of his most unforgettable knocks. Gambhir top-scored for India with 75 runs off just 54 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes.
His measured approach and temperament under pressure shone through with this effort, as without him India would’ve been staring down the barrel. Gambhir gave India a fighting total of 157/5, which they famously defended by just 5 runs, becoming the first-ever T20 World Cup champions.
3. Robin Uthappa, 50 off 39 in Durban
One of the most underrated knocks played in Indo-Pak T20 World Cup clashes is Robin Uthappa’s elegant and instrumental half-century in the group stage encounter of the 2007 edition.
On a rainy day that spiced up the surface in Durban, India’s inexperienced batting unit struggled against the Pakistani pacers. That, barring Uthappa, who didn’t cave under pressure and played his natural game, attacking his way to a half-century off just 39 balls.
Uthappa’s knock, combined with useful lower-order efforts, helped India post a competitive 141/9. The game later resulted in a tie, before the men in blue won the famous ‘bowl out’.
4. Virat Kohli, 55 off 37 in Kolkata
Purely in terms of skills on display, this is ranked as the best knock played in Indo-Pak T20 World Cup encounters. Virat Kohli batted like a man possessed that day in 2016, as he stood apart from either side on a treacherous Eden Gardens surface in Kolkata, offering spinners excessive turn.
In a rain-marred 18-over game, India found themselves 3 for 23, chasing 119 – which many felt was a very competitive score on that track. Things could’ve easily gone downhill for the Indians, who had also lost their previous Super 10 game versus New Zealand.
But Kohli played the saviour act for the ages, standing supreme in the face of adversity. His exceptional batting against both Pakistan spinners and pacers remains etched in memories of cricket lovers that day, as he helped his team navigate through a tough run-chase and eventually win by 6 wickets.
5. Mohammad Rizwan, 79* off 55 in Dubai
Last but certainly not the least is the unbeaten knock played by Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan at last year’s edition of the T20 World Cup. Rizwan batted in great control to score 79* off 55 deliveries and helped Pakistan comfortably sail through what could’ve been a tricky run-chase in Dubai.
He stitched an excellent partnership with skipper Babar Azam. The duo added 152 runs to finish off the proceedings on their own. From this game, Babar’s own watchful 68 could’ve entered this list. But the fact that Rizwan played the aggressor and allowed Babar to retain his sedate ways tilted the scales in his favour.
Rizwan never allowed the Indian bowlers to enter the game at any stage of the innings, keeping his team pressure-free throughout the chase. The aggressive right-hander made 6 fours and 3 sixes in an innings and partnership that allowed Pakistan to beat India for the first time in a World Cup clash.