Cricket may not be a global sport, but certain rivalries within the game transcend traditional boundaries and draw interest from all corners of the globe. The India-Pakistan conflict is one such example. Since the event’s start in 1984, India has been the most successful side in Asia Cup history, winning the continental championship seven times (six in ODI format and one in T20I format). Pakistan has challenged India’s dominance more than any other side in the league throughout the years.
Since 1984, India has played Pakistan 14 times in the Asia Cup, winning eight times and losing five times, with one match being rained out.
In 2018, if both teams advanced for the finals in the previous Asia Cup, there was a chance that India and Pakistan would face each other three times. However, India made it to the finals whereas Pakistan did not. India, on the other hand, dominated Pakistan in the opening match of the group stage.
The bowling team put up an outstanding performance, dismissing Pakistan for 162 in 43.1 overs before Rohit Sharma (52 off 39 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (46 off 54 balls) combined 86 for the first wicket to guarantee a straightforward chase for the ‘Men In Blue’ in only 29 overs.
When these two faced again a few days later in another group match, the outcome of the match remained same. India has beaten Pakistan for the second time in a row. India held Pakistan to 237 for 7 with two wickets each from Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav. In response, India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, both scored hundreds as India chased down the target in 39.3 overs with 9 wickets in hand.
