India vs Pakistan Cricket World Cup Rivalry
India vs Pakistan is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket, attracting millions of fans worldwide. Whenever these two teams meet in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, the match becomes a major sporting event, featuring intense competition, passionate supporters and memorable performances. India and Pakistan have produced several historic encounters, with India maintaining an unbeaten record against Pakistan in ODI Cricket World Cup matches.
India vs Pakistan ICC Men's Cricket World Cup History (1992–2023)
1992 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan met for the first time in the ODI Cricket World Cup in Sydney in 1992. India won the match by 43 runs, with Sachin Tendulkar contributing an unbeaten 54 and Kapil Dev playing an important role in the victory. This encounter marked the beginning of their memorable World Cup rivalry.
1996 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan faced each other in the quarter-final in Bengaluru, producing one of the most memorable matches in their rivalry. India scored 287 runs, with Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja playing important roles, before defeating Pakistan by 39 runs to advance to the semi-finals.
1999 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan met at Old Trafford in Manchester during the group stage. India won by 47 runs, with Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin contributing with the bat and Venkatesh Prasad taking five wickets to help secure the victory.
2003 Cricket World Cup
The 2003 World Cup encounter in Centurion is remembered for Sachin Tendulkar's remarkable innings of 98 runs. India chased Pakistan's target of 274, winning by six wickets, with Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh playing crucial roles in the successful chase.
2007 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan did not meet in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Both teams were eliminated during the group stage, missing the opportunity to add another chapter to their ODI World Cup rivalry.
2011 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan met in the semi-final at Mohali, attracting enormous international attention. India scored 260 runs, with Sachin Tendulkar making 85, before Pakistan were bowled out for 231. India won by 29 runs and subsequently defeated Sri Lanka in the final to lift the World Cup.
2015 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan faced each other in the group stage in Adelaide. Virat Kohli scored a century, helping India post 300 runs, before Pakistan were bowled out for 224. India won by 76 runs, extending its unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan.
2019 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan met at Old Trafford in Manchester in a highly anticipated group-stage match. Rohit Sharma scored a magnificent 140, helping India post 336 runs. Pakistan finished on 212 for six after a rain-affected match, and India won by 89 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
2023 Cricket World Cup
India and Pakistan faced each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in front of a huge crowd. Pakistan were bowled out for 191 after a promising start, while India chased the target comfortably, winning by seven wickets. Rohit Sharma scored 86 runs, continuing India's unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan.
India vs Pakistan World Cup Winning History
India and Pakistan have both won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, although their title-winning histories differ. India won its first title in 1983 under Kapil Dev and secured its second in 2011 under MS Dhoni, while Pakistan won its maiden and only title in 1992 under Imran Khan.
In their ODI Cricket World Cup encounters, India have won all eight completed matches against Pakistan from 1992 through 2023. These meetings have included group-stage contests, a memorable quarter-final in 1996 and the high-profile semi-final in 2011.
India vs Pakistan Best Performances in the Cricket World Cup
1992 – India's First World Cup Victory: India defeated Pakistan by 43 runs in their first ODI World Cup meeting in Sydney.
1996 – Memorable Quarter-final: India defeated Pakistan by 39 runs in Bengaluru to qualify for the semi-finals.
2003 – Sachin Tendulkar's 98: Sachin's memorable innings helped India chase down Pakistan's total of 273 and win by six wickets.
2011 – Semi-final Victory: India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in Mohali before going on to win the World Cup.
2015 – Virat Kohli's Century: Kohli scored 107 runs as India defeated Pakistan by 76 runs in Adelaide.
2019 – Rohit Sharma's Century: Rohit scored 140 runs as India secured an 89-run victory under the DLS method.
2023 – Ahmedabad Victory: India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets, extending its unbeaten ODI World Cup record against its rivals.
India's Notable World Cup Players
India's World Cup history features legendary players such as Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their performances have played important roles in India's World Cup campaigns and its victories against Pakistan.
Pakistan's Notable World Cup Players
Pakistan's World Cup history features legendary cricketers such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar. More recent players, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, have also featured in high-profile matches against India.
India vs Pakistan at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November. India and Pakistan have secured direct qualification for the tournament and could meet again depending on the draw and their progress through the competition.
A potential India vs Pakistan encounter in 2027 would add another chapter to one of cricket's most followed rivalries. Both teams will aim to make strong tournament campaigns, with their batting line-ups, bowling attacks and performances under pressure likely to play important roles.