The India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team timeline is one of the longest-running and most closely followed rivalries in international cricket. The two teams first met in Test cricket in 1952, only a few years after the partition of British India.
Over the decades, India and Pakistan have played each other in Tests, ODIs, T20Is, World Cups, T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy matches, Asia Cup fixtures, and other international competitions.
Their cricket history includes legendary performances from players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Anil Kumble, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and many others.
Unlike many bilateral rivalries, regular India-Pakistan bilateral cricket has been interrupted for long periods. As a result, their modern meetings have frequently occurred at ICC tournaments and other multinational events. The ICC traces the rivalry back to India’s first Test series against Pakistan in 1952.
India vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Competition/Event | Major Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | First Test series | India won 2–1 |
| 1961–64 | Test series | India won 2–0 |
| 1978–79 | Test series after 18-year break | Pakistan won 2–0 |
| 1982–83 | Test series in Pakistan | Pakistan won 3–0 |
| 1984–85 | Test series in India | India won 2–0 |
| 1986–87 | Test series in India | Pakistan won 1–0 |
| 1992 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 1996 | Cricket World Cup quarter-final | India won |
| 1999 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 1999 | Test series in India | Series tied 1–1 |
| 2003 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | India won group match and final |
| 2011 | Cricket World Cup semi-final | India won |
| 2012 | T20 World Cup | Pakistan won? No — India won |
| 2013 | Champions Trophy | India won |
| 2014 | T20 World Cup | India won |
| 2015 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | India won |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy final | Pakistan won |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | Pakistan won |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup | India won |
| 2023 | Cricket World Cup | India won |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | India won |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | India won |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | India won |
The table highlights major senior men’s international meetings rather than every bilateral match.
1952: The India-Pakistan Cricket Rivalry Begins
The first official Test series between India and Pakistan took place in 1952.
Pakistan toured India for its first Test series after gaining Test status.
India won the five-match series 2–1, with two matches drawn.
This series established the foundation of what would become one of international cricket’s most recognizable rivalries. The ICC describes the 1952 series as the beginning of the cricket rivalry, just five years after Partition.
The matches were played in Delhi, Lucknow, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta.
1960s: Early Test Battles
India and Pakistan continued to play Test cricket during the 1960s.
India won a five-match series in India in 1960–61 by 2–0, with the remaining matches drawn.
The teams also met during Pakistan’s 1964 tour of India.
Political tensions between the two countries then contributed to a lengthy interruption in bilateral cricket.
1978: Cricket Returns After an 18-Year Break
One of the most important points on the India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team timeline came in 1978.
India and Pakistan had not played each other for approximately 18 years.
The teams finally resumed Test cricket during India’s tour of Pakistan in 1978–79.
Pakistan won the three-match series 2–0, with one match drawn.
The return of cricket between the neighboring countries marked a new chapter in the rivalry. The ICC notes that bilateral cricket resumed in 1978–79 after the long interruption.
1980s: Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Kapil Dev Era
The 1980s produced some of the most famous Test and ODI contests between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan had an outstanding generation of players, including:
- Imran Khan
- Javed Miandad
- Wasim Akram
- Abdul Qadir
India featured stars such as:
- Kapil Dev
- Sunil Gavaskar
- Dilip Vengsarkar
- Ravi Shastri
The rivalry became increasingly competitive, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
In the 1982–83 Test series in Pakistan, the hosts won 3–0.
India responded during the 1984–85 series at home, winning 2–0.
Pakistan then won the 1986–87 series in India by 1–0.
1985: World Championship of Cricket
India and Pakistan also met in limited-overs cricket at neutral venues during periods when bilateral tours were more difficult to arrange.
The 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia produced another significant India-Pakistan contest.
India defeated Pakistan in the final in Melbourne and won the tournament.
The match featured strong performances from India’s batting lineup and reinforced the growing importance of limited-overs cricket in the rivalry.
1992: First World Cup Meeting
India and Pakistan first met in a men’s Cricket World Cup in 1992.
The match took place in Sydney.
Pakistan batted first and scored 173.
India successfully chased the target, finishing on 173/2 and winning by 43 runs under the scoring rules of the match.
Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 54 and was named Player of the Match.
The match began an extraordinary World Cup pattern between the teams.
1996: World Cup Quarter-Final
India and Pakistan met again in the 1996 Cricket World Cup quarter-final in Bengaluru.
India scored 287/8.
Navjot Singh Sidhu made 93, while Ajay Jadeja produced a rapid 45.
Pakistan began its chase strongly, but India’s bowlers eventually restricted Pakistan to 248/9.
India won by 39 runs and advanced to the semi-final.
1999: World Cup Meeting at Old Trafford
The 1999 Cricket World Cup produced another important India-Pakistan match.
The teams met at Old Trafford in Manchester during the Super Six stage.
India scored 227/6.
Rahul Dravid made 61 and Mohammad Azharuddin scored 59.
Pakistan was bowled out for 180.
Venkatesh Prasad took 5/27, earning Player of the Match honors.
India won by 47 runs.
1999: Historic Test Series in India
Later in 1999, Pakistan returned to India for a two-Test series.
The opening Test in Chennai became one of the most memorable matches in the rivalry.
Pakistan chased 271 and won by 12 runs after India fell short despite Sachin Tendulkar’s 136.
The second Test in Delhi featured an extraordinary bowling performance from India’s Anil Kumble.
Kumble took 10 wickets in an innings, becoming only the second bowler in Test history at the time to achieve the feat.
India won that Test, leaving the series tied 1–1.
The ICC’s historical account identifies both the Chennai thriller and Kumble’s 10-wicket innings as major moments in the 1999 series.
2003: Sachin Tendulkar’s Famous World Cup Innings
The 2003 Cricket World Cup meeting between India and Pakistan remains one of the most remembered matches in World Cup history.
Pakistan scored 273/7, with Saeed Anwar making 101.
India’s chase began aggressively.
Sachin Tendulkar scored 98 from 75 balls, including a famous upper-cut six against Shoaib Akhtar.
Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly also contributed before India’s middle order completed the chase.
India reached 276/4 and won by six wickets.
The ICC lists the 2003 Centurion match among the defining encounters in the rivalry.
2004–05: Pakistan Wins the ODI Series
India and Pakistan resumed a bilateral Test and ODI series in 2004.
The tour produced several memorable Test matches.
India won the second Test in Lahore, while Pakistan responded with a victory in Bangalore.
In the third Test, Pakistan’s Younis Khan scored 267, while Virender Sehwag made 201 for India.
Pakistan eventually won the match.
Pakistan then won the five-match ODI series 3–2, recovering from a 2–0 deficit.
The series became another important example of how quickly momentum could change between the teams.
2007: India and Pakistan Meet in the First T20 World Cup
The inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 produced two India-Pakistan matches.
Group Match
India scored 141/9.
Pakistan also scored 141, producing a tie.
At the time, tied T20 matches could be decided by a bowl-out.
India won the bowl-out 3–0, with Robin Uthappa, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh hitting the stumps while Pakistan missed its attempts.
2007 T20 World Cup Final
The teams met again in the final at Johannesburg.
India scored 157/5, with Gautam Gambhir making 75 and Rohit Sharma contributing an unbeaten 30.
Pakistan’s chase went down to the final over.
Joginder Sharma dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq, and India won by five runs.
India became the inaugural men’s T20 World Cup champion.
2011: World Cup Semi-Final
India and Pakistan met in the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final at Mohali.
India scored 260/9.
Sachin Tendulkar made 85, while Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz took 5/46.
Pakistan began its chase but lost wickets at regular intervals.
India bowled Pakistan out for 231 and won by 29 runs.
The result sent India into the World Cup final, where it defeated Sri Lanka to win the tournament.
The ICC records India’s 260/9 and Pakistan’s 231 in its overview of the 2011 World Cup.
2012: India Wins in the T20 World Cup
India and Pakistan met in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Colombo.
Pakistan was bowled out for 128.
India chased the target comfortably and won by eight wickets.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 78, continuing his emergence as a major player in the India-Pakistan rivalry.
2013: Champions Trophy
India and Pakistan met during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in Birmingham.
Rain reduced the match to 40 overs per side.
Pakistan was bowled out for 165.
India was set a revised target of 102 from 22 overs and reached it in 19.1 overs.
India won by eight wickets under the DLS method.
India eventually won the Champions Trophy final against England.
2014: T20 World Cup
India and Pakistan met in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Dhaka.
Pakistan scored 130/7.
India chased the target successfully, reaching 131/3.
India won by seven wickets.
The match continued India’s strong record against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
2015: Cricket World Cup
The 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand produced another India-Pakistan match.
The teams met in Adelaide.
India scored 300/7, with Virat Kohli making 107.
Pakistan was dismissed for 224.
India won by 76 runs.
The result extended India’s winning record against Pakistan in men’s Cricket World Cup matches.
The ICC later noted that the two teams had met in World Cups in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019 before the 2023 edition.
2016: T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens
India and Pakistan met again at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Kolkata.
Pakistan scored 118.
India chased the revised target successfully.
Virat Kohli scored 55 from 37 balls and helped India win by six wickets.
Rain affected the match and reduced India’s target.
The match was another major stage in Kohli’s growing record against Pakistan.
2017: Champions Trophy Final
One of the biggest reversals in the modern rivalry occurred in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.
India and Pakistan met at The Oval in London.
Pakistan scored 338/4, with Fakhar Zaman making 114.
India’s chase collapsed, and the team was dismissed for 158.
Pakistan won by 180 runs and claimed its first Champions Trophy title.
The ICC’s tournament records list Pakistan’s 338/4 and India’s 158 in the final.
The match ended India’s unbeaten run against Pakistan in major ICC events.
2019: World Cup at Old Trafford
India and Pakistan met at Old Trafford during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
India scored 336/5, with Rohit Sharma making 140 from 113 balls.
Pakistan’s chase was affected by rain and was reduced under the DLS method.
Pakistan finished on 212/6.
India won by 89 runs under DLS.
This became India’s seventh consecutive World Cup victory over Pakistan at the time.
2021: Pakistan’s First World Cup Victory Over India
The 2021 T20 World Cup produced a historic result.
Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets in Dubai.
Shaheen Shah Afridi played a major role with the ball, while Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam completed Pakistan’s chase without losing a wicket.
It was Pakistan’s first victory over India in a men’s World Cup match.
Before this game, India had won all of their previous men’s Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup meetings against Pakistan.
The ICC identifies the 2021 match as the moment Pakistan broke India’s long World Cup winning streak in the rivalry.
2022: Virat Kohli’s MCG Masterclass
India and Pakistan met again at the 2022 T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Pakistan scored 159/8.
India’s chase appeared to be in serious trouble at 31/4.
Virat Kohli then produced an unbeaten 82 from 53 balls.
Hardik Pandya contributed 40, and the pair rebuilt the innings.
India needed 16 runs from the final over.
The match went down to the final delivery before India completed the chase.
India won by four wickets.
The match is widely remembered for Kohli’s late-innings hitting and the dramatic final over.
2023: Cricket World Cup in Ahmedabad
The 2023 Cricket World Cup brought India and Pakistan together at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan reached 155/2 but then suffered a dramatic collapse and was dismissed for 191.
India’s Rohit Sharma scored 86, while Shreyas Iyer made an unbeaten 53.
India reached the target in 30.3 overs and won by seven wickets.
The ICC recorded this as the eighth men’s Cricket World Cup meeting between India and Pakistan—and India’s eighth victory.
2024: T20 World Cup Thriller in New York
The 2024 T20 World Cup produced another low-scoring classic.
India batted first at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium and was bowled out for just 119.
Pakistan appeared to have a strong opportunity during the chase.
However, India’s bowlers fought back.
Jasprit Bumrah took 3/14, including an important late spell.
Pakistan finished on 113, leaving India with a six-run victory.
The match became one of the tournament’s most dramatic contests.
2025: Champions Trophy in Dubai
India and Pakistan met again in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The match was played in Dubai because India played its Champions Trophy matches at the neutral venue.
Pakistan scored 241.
India successfully chased the target, reaching 244/4.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 from 111 balls.
India won by six wickets.
The victory helped India progress toward the knockout stage.
India ultimately remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and defeated New Zealand in the final to win its third Champions Trophy.
2026: T20 World Cup
The latest senior men’s chapter came at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan were drawn in the same group, with the fixture scheduled for 15 February 2026 in Colombo.
India scored 175/7.
Pakistan was restricted to 114, giving India a 61-run victory.
Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah made important early breakthroughs, helping India defend its total.
The ICC reported the 61-run result as India’s third consecutive victory at the 2026 tournament.
This is the latest senior men’s India-Pakistan meeting as of September 2026.
India vs Pakistan Cricket World Cup Timeline
The men’s Cricket World Cup has produced an especially notable series of India-Pakistan matches.
| World Cup | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sydney | India won |
| 1996 | Bengaluru | India won |
| 1999 | Manchester | India won |
| 2003 | Centurion | India won |
| 2007 | No meeting | Both eliminated in group stage |
| 2011 | Mohali | India won |
| 2015 | Adelaide | India won |
| 2019 | Manchester | India won |
| 2023 | Ahmedabad | India won |
The ICC confirmed ahead of the 2023 World Cup that the teams had met seven times previously in the men’s World Cup—in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019—with India winning all seven.
The 2023 result extended that sequence to eight wins for India.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Timeline
The T20 World Cup has produced a different pattern.
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2007 Group | India won via bowl-out after a tie |
| 2007 Final | India won by 5 runs |
| 2012 | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2014 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2016 | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2021 | Pakistan won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2024 | India won by 6 runs |
| 2026 | India won by 61 runs |
The 2007 tournament was particularly unusual because the group match ended in a tie and was decided by the tournament’s early bowl-out system. India then defeated Pakistan again in the final.
India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy Timeline
The Champions Trophy has produced several important India-Pakistan encounters.
2004
Pakistan defeated India in the Champions Trophy group stage.
2009
Pakistan and India met in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan won by 54 runs.
2013
India defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in a rain-affected group match.
2017
Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the final at The Oval.
2025
India defeated Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai, with Virat Kohli scoring an unbeaten century.
Famous India vs Pakistan Cricket Moments
Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 in 2003
Tendulkar’s 98 at Centurion is one of the most celebrated World Cup innings in the rivalry.
His aggressive battle with Pakistan’s fast bowlers helped India chase 274.
Anil Kumble’s 10 Wickets in 1999
Kumble’s historic 10/74 against Pakistan in Delhi remains one of the defining bowling performances in the rivalry.
2007 T20 World Cup Bowl-Out
India won the tied match after all three Indian bowlers hit the stumps during the bowl-out.
2007 T20 World Cup Final
India defeated Pakistan by five runs to become the inaugural T20 World Cup champions.
2011 World Cup Semi-Final
India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in Mohali and advanced to the final.
2017 Champions Trophy Final
Pakistan produced one of its biggest wins over India, winning by 180 runs.
2022 T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 helped India complete a dramatic four-wicket victory at the MCG.
2024 T20 World Cup
India defended 119 to beat Pakistan by six runs in New York.
2025 Champions Trophy
Kohli’s unbeaten century helped India defeat Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai.
2026 T20 World Cup
India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in Colombo, the latest senior men’s match between the two teams.
Why India vs Pakistan Matches Are Usually Played at ICC Events
India and Pakistan have not maintained a regular bilateral cricket schedule for long periods.
The ICC’s historical account notes that political developments contributed to interruptions in bilateral cricket, including an 18-year gap before the teams resumed Test cricket in 1978–79.
In the modern era, the teams therefore frequently meet through:
- Cricket World Cup
- T20 World Cup
- Champions Trophy
- Asia Cup
- Other ICC or ACC competitions
This has made tournament matches particularly prominent in the modern rivalry.
India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Across Major ICC Events
The rivalry has produced different patterns depending on the tournament.
Cricket World Cup
India has won all eight men’s World Cup meetings through 2023.
T20 World Cup
Pakistan ended India’s unbeaten World Cup streak with a 10-wicket win in 2021, but India won the next four meetings in 2022, 2024, and 2026.
Champions Trophy
Pakistan has historically performed strongly against India in this competition, including its 2017 final victory.
India won the 2025 meeting in Dubai by six wickets.
These records illustrate why the rivalry can look different depending on the tournament and format.
India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline: Key Takeaways
The history of India-Pakistan cricket can be divided into several broad periods.
1952–1964: The rivalry begins with Test cricket and India establishes an early advantage.
1965–1977: Bilateral cricket is interrupted for an extended period.
1978–1989: Test and ODI cricket resumes, with major stars such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar shaping the rivalry.
1990s: World Cup matches become increasingly important, with India winning the major World Cup meetings in 1992, 1996 and 1999.
2000s: The rivalry expands into T20 cricket, including the historic 2007 T20 World Cup final.
2010s: India records several major ICC-event wins, while Pakistan produces a decisive 2017 Champions Trophy final victory.
2020s: T20 and ICC tournament matches dominate the rivalry, producing famous contests in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did India and Pakistan first play cricket?
India and Pakistan first played a Test series in 1952, with India hosting Pakistan’s first Test tour. India won the series 2–1.
When was the first India vs Pakistan World Cup match?
The first men’s Cricket World Cup meeting was in 1992 in Sydney. India won the match.
Has Pakistan ever beaten India in a Cricket World Cup?
As of September 2026, Pakistan has not defeated India in a men’s Cricket World Cup match. India won all eight meetings through the 2023 World Cup.
When did Pakistan first beat India in a men’s World Cup?
Pakistan’s first men’s World Cup victory over India came in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, when Pakistan won by 10 wickets.
Who won the 2007 India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup final?
India won the inaugural T20 World Cup final by five runs in Johannesburg.
Who won the 2017 Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan?
Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.
Who won India vs Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup?
India defeated Pakistan by four wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 82.
Who won India vs Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup?
India won by six runs in New York after defending a target of 120. Jasprit Bumrah took 3/14.
Who won India vs Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy?
India defeated Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100.
Who won the latest India vs Pakistan cricket match?
The latest senior men’s international meeting was at the 2026 T20 World Cup in Colombo. India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs.
When was the biggest India vs Pakistan World Cup victory?
Among their men’s Cricket World Cup meetings, India’s 2003 six-wicket victory and Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy final victory are among the most frequently remembered matches, but the two competitions are separate and should not be directly treated as the same record category.
How many times have India and Pakistan played in the Cricket World Cup?
Through the 2023 men’s Cricket World Cup, India and Pakistan had played eight times in the tournament. India won all eight.
Why don’t India and Pakistan regularly play bilateral cricket?
Bilateral cricket between the countries has been interrupted at various points by political and diplomatic developments. The ICC’s historical account notes an 18-year interruption before Test cricket resumed in 1978–79.
Conclusion
The India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team timeline spans more than seven decades, beginning with the first Test series in 1952.
From the early Test battles of the 1950s and 1960s to the return of cricket in 1978, the rise of ODI cricket in the 1980s and 1990s, and the introduction of T20 cricket in the 2000s, the rivalry has continued to evolve.
The World Cup has produced some of the most recognizable chapters: India’s victories in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. The T20 World Cup has produced the 2007 bowl-out and final, Pakistan’s breakthrough win in 2021, Kohli’s famous 2022 chase, India’s six-run victory in 2024, and India’s 61-run victory in 2026.
The Champions Trophy has provided a different story, including Pakistan’s 180-run victory in the 2017 final and India’s six-wicket victory in the 2025 edition.
The latest chapter came in February 2026, when India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in Colombo at the T20 World Cup.
With both teams continuing to participate in ICC and Asian tournaments, the India-Pakistan cricket timeline remains an ongoing part of international cricket history.
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