Cricket
The Ultimate Showdown: Unpacking 19 Epic India vs Pakistan Clashes in Asia Cup History
The Asia Cup usually sparks excitement but few matches grip the competition in the way India vs Pakistan does. It’s a storied rivalry and there is no love lost between these two sides.
India's wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan comforts Pakistan's Agha Salman//Getty Images
Whether it is ICC events, such as the ICC Champions Trophy or the Cricket World Cup, or even other non-ICC tournaments providing a platform for these two giants of cricket to clash, any meeting is fiercely contested. The essence of the India vs Pakistan rivalry transcends sporting lines due to the ongoing political and cultural tensions between the two countries.
SportsBoom has always been fascinated by the India vs Pakistan dimension. In this guide, we intend to assess the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. We have examined the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup record and divulged some of the most memorable moments between these two sides.
India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup: The Overall Numbers
The battle for Asian cricketing supremacy between India and Pakistan has graced the Asia Cup stage 19 times. Here’s how their head-to-head record stacks up across different types of cricket matches, such as ODI and T20s:
Stats
- Total Matches Played: 19
- India Wins: 10
- Pakistan Wins: 6
- No Results (NR): 3
Overall, India has the edge over Pakistan in Asia Cup encounters, winning 10 of the 19 matches compared to Pakistan’s six. India has won four of the past five clashes, however, there were three occasions where there were no results due to poor weather.
A Look Back: Memorable India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Clashes
It’s time to delve back into the archives and look back on some of the most memorable India-Pakistan Asia Cup games. These clashes were often fiery, but they also created frenzied excitement during the tournament.
India vs Pakistan (1986 – Sharjah)
One of the tightest Asia Cup matches between India and Pakistan, it is etched in cricketing folklore. Held in Sharjah, UAE, this game ebbed and flowed, and it was a rollercoaster for both sets of fans.
Pakistan were chasing down 245 in the final of this ODI contest, and they found themselves in a rather perilous position requiring four off the final ball.
But Javed Miandad, who was one of Pakistan’s celebrated cricketers at the time bludgeoned a six of Chetan Sharma’s delivery to seal an incredible victory. This arguably set the touchpaper for India’s rivalry with Pakistan moving forward in the competition.
India vs Pakistan (2010 – Dambulla)
In terms of Asia Cup results between India and Pakistan, the 2010 clash was a cliffhanger going right down to the wire.
Pakistan were fighting to stay alive in the Asia Cup, and they pushed India hard. India needed seven runs off the final over. Cue unlikely hero Harbhajan Singh who was fuelled by adrenaline, and he loved a scrap.
In the penultimate ball of this 50-over match, Singh heaved the ball over midweek to prompt wild celebrations in the Indian dressing room. This was one of those matches that got away from Pakistan.
India vs Pakistan (2014 – Dhaka)
India and Pakistan are known for producing high-quality games, and this match in Dhaka almost felt like a carbon copy of the 1986 thriller.
Chasing a competitive target of 245, Pakistan looked to be storming towards the finishing line. With 11 required off the final 10 balls, Pakistan seemed in total control, but three wickets fell in the space of five balls.
Shahid Afridi, who holds the record for the longest six in cricket history, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and swung the advantage in Pakistan’s favour. He bullied Ravichandran Ashwin and clinched victory with a superb stroke that sailed over long-on for six. A remarkable moment in another nail-biting ODI clash.
Statistical Highlights & Player Records (India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup)
We’ve rummaged through and cross-referenced the Pakistan vs India Asia Cup stats across multiple sources, picking out highlights and records to mull over:
Leading Run-Scorers in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Matches: Shoaib Malik with 428 runs from five games.
Leading Wicket-Takers in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Matches: Sajeed Ajmal with eight wickets from four games.
Highest Individual Scores: Virat Kohli, who is perceived as the king of cricket, smashed 183 runs for India from 148 balls in 2012. Meanwhile, Shoaib Malik notched up 143 runs from just 127 balls in Colombo in 2004. Both were ODI games.
Best Bowling Figures: Aaqib Javed bowled figures of 5 for 19 for Pakistan from 19 overs in an ODI Asia Cup showdown with India in Sharjah in 1995.
Most Player of the Match Awards in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clashes: Sachin Tendulkar has won the most career Player of the Match awards for India (62). However, Virat Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket, won three in the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, more than any other player.
The Ebb and Flow of the Rivalry in the Asia Cup
Judging by how recent games have panned out, India has been the more dominant force, winning four of the past five Asia Cup fixtures against Pakistan.
Pakistan were the bigger threat in the early 2000s, often easing to comfortable wins (40 runs or more). However, it’s worth noting the Asia Cup has shifted between T20s and ODIs during its history, and both formats provide their own challenges. With T20, there is more of an emphasis on power hitting, while ODIs allow teams to construct an innings more patiently.
Conclusion
In summary, the India vs Pakistan head-to-head record shows India just shades it, however, these games have ebbed and flowed, captivating the attention of cricket fans worldwide.
Regardless of cricket’s biggest rivalry stats, whenever India and Pakistan meet in the Asia Cup, it is always eagerly anticipated. Fireworks are bound to happen, and we can’t wait to see how contests unfold in the future between the fractious pair.
SportsBoom Suggests/Bottom Line
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup rivalry, with its rich history over 19 encounters, is a marquee event in cricket; historical head-to-head stats, player performances in these high-pressure games, and current team form heavily influence betting markets and fan excitement for every match-up.
REFERENCES
- 1
India vs Pakistan 1986 Asia Cup Final Scorecard: Full Scorecard for the 1986 Final - https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/austral-asia-cup-1985-86-60863/india-vs-pakistan-final-65816/full-scorecard Accessed May 28, 2025
- 2
Top batting scores in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clashes: Recalling the highest individual batting scores between India and Pakistan - https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/batting-most-runs-innings/asia-cup-odi-14 Accessed May 28, 2025
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.