INDIA vs PAKISTAN: Rivalry Beyond the Game

The T20 World Cup Group 2 showdown between India and Pakistan in Dubai promises to be a  spectacular thriller for Indian and Pakistan fans across the world.

When two rival nations like India and Pakistan faces off each other in any sport or game the level of heat it produces is gigantic, and when it comes to cricket it is very much beyond that.

Tense moments and spectacular outbursts have occurred in all of India vs Pakistan's cricket matches. In Dubai, the stage is set for another India-Pakistan showdown. The Twenty20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan will take place tonight at 7.30pm IST.  

Both fans and former players on both sides have come up with claims and predictions before the match. India has never been defeated by Pakistan in a World Cup match. Pakistan, meanwhile, are confident that they have not lost in their last six Twenty20 matches in Dubai.

India has a 12-0 record against Pakistan in the World Cup matches. India have always won the ODI and Twenty20 World Cups between the two teams. India has won seven ODI World Cups and five Twenty20 World Cups. The pitches in the UAE are familiar to Indian players.

The second phase of the IPL season was played at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah stadiums in the UAE. It was after that experience that India decided to play in the UAE with four spinners. The performances of Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarty, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Chahar will be crucial in India's progress to the World Cup.

The pitches in the UAE are also familiar to Pakistani players. For years, Pakistan has played home and away matches on grounds in the UAE. "We are well aware of the situation in the UAE," Pakistan captain Babur Azam told a news conference. India and Pakistan last met in the ODI World Cup two years ago. India won the match thanks to Rohit Sharma's century.

India has also defeated Pakistan in the final of the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup. Apart from Pakistan, India is joined in the group by New Zealand, Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia. However, in the group stage, the fans are waiting for the India-Pakistan match.

2007 Twenty20 World Cup Final: India-Pakistan

The final between India and Pakistan in 2007 is considered the toughest battle between India and Pakistan.  India and Pakistan were battling for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup. India won the toss and scored 157 runs in their first innings. The Indian innings was led by Gautam Gambhir, who struck 75 off 54 balls. Rohit Sharma also excelled in the encounter, hitting 30 off 16 balls.

In the second innings, when Pakistan came to bat, India countered by taking wickets at regular intervals against the Pakistani batsmen.

However, as the match progressed, Misbah-ul-Haq's batting was highly expected to lead Pakistan in winning the World Cup. To win, Pakistan needed six runs off the final four balls. When Misbah was caught by Sreesanth, he tried for a scoop shot, and India were crowned as the first World T20 Champions.

2016 Twenty20 World Cup, Group Stage

India faced Pakistan after suffering a major defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup. The match was played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India won the toss and elected the field first. Indian bowlers performed well, and Pakistan only scored 118 runs by losing five wickets.

India didn't have a good start in the second innings. They were at 23 for three in five overs. But Virat Kohli's half century (55) helped India to victory. It was also India's first victory in that World Cup.

History of Test, ODI, and other Twenty20 first matches

Five years after the partition of India and Pakistan, the two sides meet for the first time in cricket. The first competition was held from October 16 to 18, 1952. This was Pakistan's first Test match. The match was played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. Abdul Hafeez Kardar and Amir Elahi, who played Tests for India, also played for Pakistan that day. India won the match by an innings and 70 runs.

India and Pakistan played their first ODI series on October 1, 1978. In the first match played in Quetta, Pakistan lost by four runs. Pakistan won the second match at Sialkot to make the series 1–1. The third match ended in controversy. India captain Binshan Singh Bedi has called off the match in protest against Pakistan bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, who continued to bowl bouncers and also against the umpire's unfair action.