El Clasico has got nothing on an India vs Pakistan cricket match. You’ll hear many utter this. And in their defence, they were right. This statement was right until about a decade and a half ago. The two neighbouring nations haven’t been on the most cordial terms ever since the partition in 1947.
What India vs Pakistan rivalry means & its changed dynamic
Forget the war of words; there have been literal wars between the two countries. Therefore, for many, including the governments of the nations, the India vs. Pakistan match is much more than a game. It’s about pride. Right or wrong, that’s how it is. But just talking about actual cricket, the rivalry doesn’t exist anymore.
India vs. Pakistan was never equally matches. Until 2000, Men in Green had wood over the Men in Blue. The tide changed post that. 25 years later, the rivalry ceases to exist. It’s nothing more than a money maker for the International Cricket Board (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
No competition & overhyped without substance
The statement isn’t coming after Pakistan was outplayed by India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. But this has been true for a while now. That 2017 defeat at the very same event was an aberration, and so was the 2021 T20 World Cup victory. Pakistan is lucky that Test cricket between the two nations hasn’t resumed; otherwise, they would be rag-dolled in red-ball cricket.
Let’s start with 2011. The ODI World Cup semifinal clash in Mohali was the start of it all. Both were ageing teams that were to transition soon. India beat them by 30 runs in a match that wasn’t that close. Since then, India has had an 11-4 record against them. At ICC events, they have a 1-6 record. Pakistan hasn’t beaten India since 2017 in 50-over cricket. Nowhere close.
Let’s do the same for T20Is. Since 2012, they have beaten India just thrice in 11 matches. Once again, only one of these victories is at an ICC event. Where is the India vs. Pakistan rivalry? Year by year, the rights for the match increase, and ICC and ACC make more money in the Champions Trophy, ODI World Cup, and Asia Cup. That is the purpose of this match now.
India vs Pakistan head-to-head record since 2012
| Matches | Won (India) | Won (Pakistan) | No Result | |
| ODIs | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| T20Is | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1 |
They are built up as the Clash of Titans, when actually most time it looks like a senior team going against a junior side. Here are the results of the last three ODIs between them: India won by 6 wickets, 7 wickets, and 228 runs. Absolute thrashings. The ICC allegedly rigs the draw to have India and Pakistan meet at every event in the group stage. That rivalry seems to exist for the general public it seems but in the field, it isn’t a fight.
India vs. Pakistan is not even a top 5 cricket rivalry
One can even go as far as saying India vs. Pakistan isn’t even among the top five rivalries. Australia vs. India has been the main match for a decade now, across formats. Both teams fight for each ICC trophy. South Africa vs. India and South Africa vs. Australia are better as well. The Proteas lost the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal to Australia and the 2024 T20 World Cup final to India and have reached the final of the World Test Championship as well.
Ashes remains the oldest and one of the most close rivalries, and of late, Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh has taken over as the Asian rivalry. They have the same zest that India vs Pakistan matches used to have back in the 1980s or 1990s. Even Afghanistan vs Pakistan seems better at the moment.
Such has been India’s rise and Pakistan’s decline that, apart from numbers (money and viewership), it generates nothing. No competition, no excitement, and no high-quality cricket on one side (Pakistan).
