India (IND) and Pakistan (PAK) have a rivalry that has transcended all intensities in the world of cricket. The two nations not only share a cricketing past but a history as well. However, since 1952, the two sides have been at loggerheads both on and off the field.
Coming to the ICC ODI World Cups, the two sides didn’t clash until the 1992 World Cup in Australia, and India triumphed over Pakistan with ease. This started a streak that has remained unbroken for 31 years now. India defeated Pakistan in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 editions of the ODI World Cups, respectively, and have enjoyed a 8-0 unbeaten streak so far.
The most recent clash of the ODI World Cup 2023 saw Rohit Sharma making a mockery of the 192-run target. He slammed 6 sixes and as many fours in his 63-ball 86 knock, which gave India the match in the first 10 overs itself. There has been a consistent level of such innings being played by Indian batters against Pakistan in World Cups.
Here are Five Fabulous Batting Triumphs of India Over Pakistan in ODI World Cups:
5. Ajay Jadeja (45, 1996 World Cup)
Ajay Jadeja
The match was the quarterfinal of the ODI World Cup 1996 and was played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, in Bengaluru. India opted to bat first and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 93 led the way for the side. Contributions from Sachin Tendulkar (31), Mohammed Azharuddin (27), and Vinod Kamble (24) kept the team in the hunt for a big score.
However, the big impetus came from Ajay Jadeja and the victim was Waqar Younis. The carnage began in the 48th over when Anil Kumble hit Younis for two fours and then Jadeja finished with a four and a six. In the 49th over, pacer Aaqib Javed got a wicket but gave two fours in the last 3 balls as well. The final over saw Ajay Jadeja hammering Younis for a six and a four off the first two balls as well.
Though Younis dismissed Jadeja, he had scored 45 in 25 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes and India scored 287/8.
4. Sachin Tendulkar (98, 2003 World Cup)
Sachin Tendulkar
India and Pakistan met in the 2003 ODI World Cup encounter in Centurion in a day match. Pakistan batted first and thanks to a century from Saeed Anwar, scored 273/7 in 50 overs. India responded by taking apart their three big pacers in the form of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis.
Virender Sehwag hit a luscious six-over point to Younis before falling for 21 runs.
However, Sourav Ganguly then fell for a golden duck, but Sachin Tendulkar carried on his blitzkrieg. His cut shot for a six-over point to Sohaib Akhtar is a permanent fixture in any highlight reel for the India versus Pakistan match.
He hammered the Pakistani bowlers, scoring 98 runs in 75 balls with 12 fours and that amazing six. He fell to a short ball from Akhtar near the end. But Rahul Dravid (44*) and Yuvraj Singh (50*) took India home with 6 wickets to spare.
3. Virat Kohli (107, 2015 World Cup)
Virat Kohli
India and Pakistan clashed at the Adelaide Oval in the 2015 ODI World Cup. MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat first. Shikhar Dhawan led from the front with 73 in 76 balls. But the knock of the game came from Virat Kohli, who hammered a brilliant 107 with 8 fours to his name. Suresh Raina further made 74 as India posted 300/7.
Kohli’s knock was a sublime one against a rampaging Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan, while he negotiated Sohail Khan well, who picked 5 wickets against India. However, Kohli managed to both dominate and build India a platform to launch in later overs quite smoothly.
2. Sachin Tendulkar (85, 2011 World Cup)
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar makes another appearance on this list. This time his knock came in the all-important semi-final match of the 2011 ODI World Cup which was played in Mohali. MS Dhoni again won the toss and chose to bat first. The pitch was a tricky one and Pakistan bowlers were having a field day.
However, luck was with Sachin Tendulkar as he survived a close LBW call on the bowling of Saeed Ajmal. Pakistan also dropped 4 of his catches in that match and Tendulkar played his way to a steady 85 in 115 balls with 11 fours. His calm presence at the crease enabled others to make contributions to take India to a fighting 260/9 in 50 overs.
1. Rohit Sharma (140, 2019 World Cup)
Rohit Sharma
The highest individual score in India versus Pakistan in the ODI World Cup matches was made by Rohit Sharma when the two sides met in the 2019 edition in England. Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and surprisingly chose to bowl first in Manchester.
This backfired as KL Rahul (57) and Rohit Sharma added 136 for the first wicket. Then Virat Kohli (77) and Rohit Sharma added 98 runs for the second wicket. Rohit Sharma made 140 sublime runs which came in 113 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes. He fell in the 39th over and was distraught knowing that he was within reach of another ODI double ton.