Asian Champions Trophy: India's dominance over Pakistan

Asian Champions Trophy: Joint defending champions India and Pakistan will clash in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Friday. And India, playing their third match of the tournament, will look to continue their recent domination over their arch-rivals. Follow live updates on InsideSport.IN

Also read: Asian Champions Trophy LIVE: India vs Pakistan LIVE – Men in Blue face off against arch-rivals in crunch clash – Follow LIVE Updates

The Indian hockey team has been unbeaten in the last 11 matches against their neighbours, winning 10 of those fixtures. Even in the Asian Champions Trophy, India hold the upper hand.

Asian Champions Trophy: India aim to maintain recent dominance over Pakistan, check record details

Out of eight matches played, India have won four while Pakistan have emerged victorious on two occasions. The remaining two matches have ended in draws.

Stat attack

In the last 11 encounters between the two teams, India have won 10 while one ended in a draw.
In Asian Champions Trophy matches, India have faced Pakistan eight times
India have won four, while Pakistan have triumphed twice. Two matches have ended in draws
Overall record favours Pakistan with 82 wins to their name as compared to India’s 62.

In fact, the last time the two countries met was at this competition itself back in 2018. The two heavyweights were supposed to meet in the final in Muscat but the match was washed out due to rain, forcing the organisers to declare both countries as joint champions.

It was supposed to be their fourth face off in the Asian Champions Trophy final, after 2011, 2012 and 2016.

Asian Champions Trophy: India aim to maintain recent dominance over Pakistan, check record details

The last time Pakistan beat India in a hockey match was in the final of the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati. Pakistan hold the edge in the overall head-to-head record against India, winning 82 matches and losing 62 games.

Pakistan hockey has suffered a serious blip with the national team failing to qualify for the last two Olympics. In contrast, India ended their Olympic medal drought with a historic bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite their recent slump which has seen the team lie No 18 in the world, Pakistan remain one of the hockey powerhouses and can surprise any team on their day. They are also the three-time Asian Champions Trophy winners, an honour they share with India.

Asian Champions Trophy: India aim to maintain recent dominance over Pakistan, check record details

India drew with South Korea 2-2 in their first match despite taking a two-goal lead. Skipper Manpreet Singh said after the match, “This was the first match of the tournament and we will surely bounce back against Bangladesh.”

And bounce back they did! In the last match on Wednesday, the Indian men’s hockey team thrashed Bangladesh 9-0. Dilpreet Singh grabbed a hat-trick and six other goals were scored as India secured a big win to inch ahead on the points table ahead of their clash against Pakistan.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have played only one match so far. It ended in a goalless draw against Japan. South Korea are the other team in the five-team continental tournament. Malaysia withdrew from the tournament. The final is scheduled for December 22.

Asian Champions Trophy: India aim to maintain recent dominance over Pakistan, check record details

Athletics