Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will renew their rivalry in the Asia Cup 2022 group game at the Dubai International Stadium on August 28. This high-voltage rivalry has high stakes both financially and in terms of fan engagements. The rivalry has got a lot more intense ever since the 2012/13 season as both teams only compete in multi-nation tournaments like the Asia Cup or the ICC events due to the strained political relations between both nations for decades.
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, it is Pakistan that has the upper hand with 73-55 wins in ODIs and 12-9 in Tests. However, they trail by 2-6 in the shortest format. The Men in Green also handed a thumping 180-run and 10-wicket defeat to India in the Champions Trophy 2017 final and the T20 World Cup 2021. Meanwhile, there are some of the Indian team’s unique team records that Pakistan will never be able to break.
Here’s a look at 5 Team India’s records that Pakistan will never be able to break
5. Most 200 or more totals in T20Is
Pakistan have been one of the best T20I sides for the last few years. Under Sarfaraz Ahmed, they registered 11 straight bilateral series victories during the 2017/18 season and currently hold the record for most T20I wins in a calendar year (20). While this is an outstanding team record, there is one record in which they are way behind their arch-rivals.
India currently occupy the top spot when it comes to a team having registered 200 or more totals most times in T20Is. The Men in Blue have achieved this feat a record 21 times while Pakistan have only managed this on 10 occasions.
This will be really challenging for Pakistan to even get near India’s tally as they first have to surpass the likes of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and England who are already ahead of the Men in Green.
4. Most Test wins at home
This is another record that is next to impossible for Pakistan to achieve in international cricket and that is to have complete home dominance like India in the longest format. India is a place where even the best visiting teams have faltered over the years when it comes to red-ball cricket.
So far India have gone on to register 112 Test victories at home as compared to Pakistan’s overall tally of 60. Meanwhile, it is to be noted that the Indian team have been undefeated in the home Test series since their 1-2 loss against England during the 2012/13 season which is nothing but outstanding.
Pakistan, on the other hand, were deprived of hosting international cricket for a decade after the Lahore firing in March 2009 when the terrorists had fired the Sri Lankan team bus which was on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium injuring a few players. The neighbouring country is now hosting international teams and had suffered a 0-1 loss in the three-match Test series against Australia in March this year.
3. Most appearances in knockout stages of ICC 50-over events
India are one of the most successful teams when it comes to ICC knockouts in One Day Internationals. They have been making the it to the semifinal and final of the ICC ODI events on a regular basis since the 2011 World Cup.
Ever since their maiden World Cup triumph in 1983, the Indian team have gone on to make 26 knockout appearances in the ICC 50-over events as compared to Pakistan’s tally of 18.
With India hosting next year’s ODI World Cup, the Men in Blue have one more chance to rewrite history. Thus, this record could also prove to be beyond Pakistan’s reach.
2. 12 successive wins over Pakistan in World Cups
This is the biggest record that India hold over their arch-rivals and that is sheer dominance when it comes to World Cup encounters. The Indian team currently holds a 12-1 record over Pakistan (seven ODIs and five in T20 World Cups).
Pakistan might have broken the jinx with a 10-wicket win in last year’s T20 World Cup, but it was a long wait of 29 years to finally get the job done. Moreover, they are yet to defeat India in an ODI World Cup clash.
This is the record that is way beyond Pakistan’s grasp and even if they do manage to beat India in another World Cup clash, the deficit would only keep on increasing with each victory registered by the Men in Blue going forward.
1. Back-to-Back Test series wins in Australia
India became the first Asian side to register a Test series victory on Australian soil in the 2018/19 season. They registered yet another series win in 2020/21 under stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership to retain the iconic Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The triumph was possible courtesy of India’s strong bench strength who rose to the occasion when regular skipper Virat Kohli left the series midway on paternity leave, key players were injured, and registered their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in the series opener.
Nonetheless, the Indian team overcame all odds and sealed the series 2-1 by ending Australia’s 33-year Test dominance at the Gabba. While winning one Test series down under is phenomenal, registering consecutive series wins is incredible.
Pakistan on the other hand became the first Asian team to register an ODI series victory down under during the 2001/02 season, but they are yet to register a Test series victory over there. Even the strong squads of the 90s and early to mid-2000s have miserably failed to get the job done and therefore, this is another feat of the Indian team which is extremely difficult for Pakistan to achieve.
from CricTracker https://ift.tt/t8u43sG
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