India vs Pakistan: Cricket's Greatest Rivalry
Historical Giants vs. Modern Masters
- Pakistan's Era (Historical Lead): Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head, largely due to dominance in the 1980s and 90s.
- India's Fortress (ICC Events): India has a near-perfect record in World Cups, serving as the mental giants of major tournaments.
- The Modern Shift (T20 Dominance): In the shortest format since 2007, India has been ruthless, winning ~81% of contests.
Visual Intelligence by FactsFigs.com
Head-to-Head Records (As of Feb 2026)
Data Source: ESPNcricinfo
Overview
If you look at history books, Pakistan is the superior side, leading the overall head-to-head record (88-80) thanks to their 'Cornered Tigers' era of the 80s and 90s. If you look at the last 15 years, India is untouchable.
The rivalry today is defined by this dichotomy: Pakistan possesses the historical bragging rights, while India acts as a ruthless 'fortress' in high-pressure ICC World Cups, boasting a combined 15-1 record across ODI and T20 major tournaments.
The Tale of Two Eras
Pakistan leads the total tally (88 wins vs 80 wins), with 43 draws/no results.
Fast Facts
- The Wall 8 -0 (Ind) India has never lost to Pakistan in a 50-over World Cup match (1992–2023).
- T20 World Cups 7 -1 (Ind) India dominates the T20 World Cup stage, with Pakistan's only win coming in 2021.
- Frozen Past Pak 12 -9 Ind Pakistan holds the edge in Test cricket, though the sides haven't played a Test since 2007.
- The New Age Ind 13 -3 Pak Since the 2007 T20 inception, India has dominated the shortest format head-to-head.
The 'World Cup' Streak (India's Fortress)
The most famous statistic in cricket. From 1992 to 2023, India has beaten Pakistan in every single 50-over World Cup meeting, building an 8-0 Wall. The story is similar in T20 World Cups, where India leads 7-1. Pakistan's solitary joy came in 2021, a 10-wicket win that briefly broke the T20 curse.
The Overall Picture (Pakistan's Legacy)
Why Pakistan still leads the charts. Pakistan built a massive lead in the 1980s and 90s, dominating bilateral series and neutral venue matches in Sharjah. This buffer keeps them ahead in the overall count (88 wins vs India's 80). They also hold a 12-9 lead in Test cricket.
The Modern Era & The Freeze
Since the 2007 T20 World Cup Final, India has treated Pakistan as a favorite opponent in the shortest format, winning 13 out of 16 T20Is. Meanwhile, the ultimate format, Test Cricket, remains frozen in time, with the two sides not having played a red-ball match against each other since 2007 due to political tensions.
Conclusion
The rivalry today is a psychological battle.
Pakistan fights to reclaim the glory of their past dominance, while India ruthlessly maintains their stranglehold on the biggest stages in world cricket.
Data Source and Attribution
Data aggregated from ESPNcricinfo database, official ICC tournament records, and Wisden archives.
Disclaimer: Stats are current as of February 2026. Test cricket data remains static due to the ongoing suspension of bilateral series between the nations.
2026-02-12
Other Popular Topics
The Atmospheric Harvest: Decentralized Water
The Analog Rebellion - Smartphones , Dumbphones
