Every India-Pakistan cricket match is high on adrenaline and emotions. There have been matches filled with great drama and emotions ever since both these nations stepped foot on the world of cricket. The contest gets all the more fascinating when the Men in Blue and the Green Brigade take on each other in the World Cup. The marquee clash would bring both nations to a standstill and the pressure on both teams would be immensely high. However, India have a stranglehold over Pakistan when it comes to the World Cup, as they have won all six of their six matches against the arch-rivals in the showpiece event. Some of the all-time greats of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Sourav Ganguly, Javed Miandad, Virender Sehwag, Shoaib Akhtar, and Imran Khan were part of these intriguing clashes over the last seven editions of the World Cup. As the next installment in the epic India vs Pakistan World Cup rivalry is scheduled for June 16 at the Old Trafford, it is time to leap back in time and recall those mouthwatering clashes between the two sides on the world cricket’s grandest stage.

1992 March 4 Sydney

Miandad’s antics

The India-Pakistan rivalry at the World Cup began in 1992 in a group fixture. Opting to bat first on a slow surface, India were all out for a sub-par score of 216 in 49 overs. Pakistan lost early wickets during the chase and were in a precarious position. They were 85 for two in the 25th over when the bizarre incident involving Miandad and Kiran More took place. At the end of a tense over, the Pakistani batsman jumped up and down with his bat held in both hands making fun of More's excessive appealing. The mock gesture, which had spectators and commentators in splits, still remains a symbol of India-Pakistan rivalry. However, India had the last laugh in the game as Miandad was castled by Javagal Srinath and Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for only 68. They were bundled out for 173 in 48.1 overs, handing India a comfortable 43-run win. A 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 54 off 62 balls, in addition to Amir Sohail's wicket was the man of the match.

1996 March 9 Bengaluru

A moment of madness

India, deciding to bat first in the quarterfinals against Pakistan, rode on the brilliance of Navjot Singh Sidhu (93 of 115 balls) and Ajay Jadeja (45 off 25) to put up 287 for eight in the stipulated 50 overs. Pakistan started the chase positively with Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar stitching an 84-run partnership for the first wicket. But a moment of madness from the former perhaps cost them the match. After hitting a boundary, he pointed his bat towards Venkatesh Prasad and then to the boundary as if to suggest that the bowler should go and fetch the ball. A fired up Prasad then ran in and Sohail charged out to repeat the shot, but missed the ball and his stumps were shattered. Adding insult to injury, local boy Prasad animatedly gestured Sohail to get out of the field, sparking off wild celebrations in the packed stadium. That dismissal ruined Pakistan’s chase as they could manage only 248/9 in 49 overs. Prasad and Anil Kumble picked up three wickets in India’s 39-run victory. Sidhu was adjudged man of the match for his fine knock.

1999 June 9 Manchester

Prasad continues to haunt Pak

Once again India won the toss and elected to bat first in a high-profile Super Six encounter. They posted a moderate total of 227 for six in 50 overs, thanks to Rahul Dravid who top-scored with 61 runs off 89 balls. Venkatesh Prasad then produced one of his finest bowling performances as he claimed 5 for 27 from 9.3 overs to bowl out Pakistan for just 180 runs. Inzamam-ul-Haq (41) was their top-scorer. India won the match with a 47-run margin and Prasad bagged the man of the match award for his stupendous show.

2003 March 1 Centurion

When Sachin took Akhtar to the cleaners

Excitement was running high for the clash between two sub-continent cricketing powerhouses at the 2003 World Cup co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Prior to the match, Pakistani tearaway Shoaib Akhtar had tried playing some mind games, stating that he had the better of Tendulkar. Choosing to bat first, Pakistan made 273/7 on the back of a fine hundred from Saeed Anwar. India began the chase superbly. After three fairly good deliveries in the first over, Akhtar banged one in short and wide and Tendulkar slashed at the ball with an open-faced bat, sending it over the ropes for a six. He followed up with two more exquisite fours off the next two balls, amassing 18 runs off the pacer’s first over. The only relief for Akhtar was that he ended up getting the wicket of Tendulkar. However, the damage was done as the Little Master, who won the man-of-the-match award, had already scored 98 from 75 balls. India romped home with six wickets and 26 balls to spare, thus maintaining their flawless record against Pakistan in World Cup matches.

2011 March 30 Mohali

A high-pressure encounter

The semifinal match between India and Pakistan in the 10th edition of the World Cup co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh took place at a time when the relationship between India and Pakistan was at a low following the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Extending a hand of friendship, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the match with him at Mohali and the later accepted. Batting first, India laboured to 260/9 with Sachin (85) doing the bulk of the scoring. Wahab Riaz took 5/46 for the visitors. India’s dream of winning the World Cup at home came one step closer after their bowlers restricted Pakistan to 231 in 49.5 overs to set up a 29-run victory. Sachin once again was the man of the match.

2015 February 15 Adelaide

The Kohli show

Holders India kicked off their campaign in the 2015 edition by taking on Pakistan in a group encounter. Virat Kohli took over the baton from the Little Master and scored a scintillating century to guide India to an imposing total of 300/7. Kohli’s 107 off 126 balls was the first three-figure score by an Indian against Pakistan in the World Cup. The previous best was Sachin’s 98 runs in the 2003 edition. Kohli, who the vice-captain of the team, also became the highest individual scorer in an India-Pakistan World Cup match by surpassing Saeed Anwar’s 101 in the 2003 edition. India came up with a disciplined display with the ball as well and bowled out Pakistan for 224 in 47 overs to register a 76-run victory. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 4 /35 from 9 overs. Kohli won the man-of-the-match honours for his scintillating ton.

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