India taking on Pakistan is always mouthwatering content irrespective of the contest or format in which they are playing. The rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket stands as one of the most intense and legendary in the world of sports. Its origins can be traced back to 1952 when these two nations first crossed paths in Test cricket. However, it was in the realm of limited-overs cricket, particularly in the arena of One Day Internationals (ODIs), that this rivalry truly ascended to iconic status.
A defining moment in the annals of this rivalry occurred during the 2003 Cricket World Cup when India and Pakistan collided in the group stage. This encounter, staged before a capacity crowd and watched by millions globally, epitomized the high-stakes drama that accompanies matches between these cricketing giants. Also, in addition to that, there have been some one-sided affairs in which the Indian team has blown apart the Pakistan team. Let us now look at the top three India’s biggest wins against the Pakistan team in ODIs;
1. 228 in Colombo (RPS) in 2023
It was in the Asia Cup 2023, that the Indian team scripted their biggest win when they thrashed the Pakistan team by 228 runs. The star with the bat in that match was Virat Kohli (122*) and KL Rahul (111*) and with the ball, it was the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav who took a five-fer against the solid Pakistan batting lineup who never looked to pick the variations from the wrist spinner.
Kuldeep finished the match with a bowling figure of 5/25. Earlier in the game, the India batting side registered a humongous total of 356 runs on board in reply to which the Pakistan side was bundled out for just 128 runs.
2. 140 in Mirpur in 2008
In the Asia Cup Super 4 clash, Pakistan endured their second heaviest-ever ODI defeat against arch-rival India, losing by 228 runs. Kuldeep Yadav’s five-wicket performance played a pivotal role in India’s comprehensive win. This defeat surpassed Pakistan’s previous largest loss to India in ODIs, which was by 140 runs in 2008 when they were bowled out for 190 while chasing a target of 331 runs.
3. 124 in Birmingham in 2017
In the ICC Champions Trophy opener, India defeated Pakistan by 124 runs, leading to jubilant celebrations among Indian fans in Birmingham. Despite rain interruptions, India scored 319/3 in 48 overs, and Pakistan’s revised target was 289 in 41 overs. Although Pakistan had a solid start, they lost wickets at regular intervals. Fans eagerly endured the rain delays to witness the match between two top-quality teams.
Also Check: India vs. Australia: Top 3 highest individual scores in ODIs