The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline is one of the most fascinating stories in international cricket. It stretches from the first Test meeting in 1952 to high-pressure ICC, Asia Cup and Asian Games encounters in the 2020s. What started as cricket between two newly independent neighbours gradually became one of the world’s most watched sporting rivalries.
Over the decades, the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline has been shaped by political tensions, wars, cancelled tours, long breaks in bilateral cricket and unforgettable performances from legendary players.
Across 213 matches in all formats as of October 6, 2026, Pakistan have 88 wins and India have 82, with 43 matches ending in draws, ties or no-results. Pakistan have the advantage in Tests and ODIs, while India have the stronger T20I record. Since 2012–13, bilateral meetings have been extremely rare, making ICC and Asia Cup matches even more important.
This detailed Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline covers the major eras, landmark matches, World Cup meetings, T20 clashes, Champions Trophy encounters and the latest chapter of the rivalry.
Disclaimer: Cricket statistics and records can change as new matches are played. Historical and current information in this article has been checked through October 6, 2026.
Quick Facts About Pakistan vs India Cricket
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| First meeting | Test: 16–18 October 1952, Delhi |
| First Test result | India won by an innings and 70 runs |
| First ODI | 1 October 1978 |
| First ODI result | India won by 4 runs |
| First T20I | 14 September 2007, Durban |
| First T20I result | Match tied; India won the bowl-out |
| Latest meeting | T20I: 3 October 2026, Asian Games final |
| Latest result | India won by 19 runs |
| Total matches | 213 |
| Tests | 59 |
| ODIs | 136 |
| T20Is | 18 |
| Overall wins | Pakistan 88, India 82 |
| Last bilateral series | Pakistan tour of India, 2012–13 |
Early Years: The Pakistan vs India Rivalry Begins (1952–1961)
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline officially began in Test cricket in October 1952, when Pakistan toured India for its first Test series against its neighbours.
The first Test was played in Delhi from October 16 to 18, 1952. India scored 372, while Vinoo Mankad produced an outstanding bowling performance. He took 8 wickets for 52 runs in Pakistan’s first innings and finished the match with 13 wickets.
Pakistan were dismissed for 150 and 152, allowing India to win the opening Test by an innings and 70 runs.
However, Pakistan responded immediately in the second Test at Lucknow. They defeated India by an innings and 43 runs, recording their first Test victory over their neighbours.
India eventually won the five-match series 2–1.
The early stage of the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline established a pattern that would remain throughout the rivalry: whenever one side gained an advantage, the other was capable of producing an immediate response.
Reciprocal tours followed in 1954–55 and 1960–61, although several matches ended in draws. The rivalry then entered a long period of silence.
1962–1977: The Long Break
The next major phase in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline was not defined by matches but by their absence.
India and Pakistan did not play each other from 1962 until 1978. Political tensions and the wars of 1965 and 1971 contributed to the interruption of cricketing relations.
The 17-year gap meant that when the two sides finally returned to international cricket against each other, the matches carried far greater importance.
This long interruption also became one of the defining characteristics of the Pakistan vs India cricket rivalry: cricket between the two nations could never be considered completely separate from events outside the sport.
1978: First ODI in the Pakistan vs India Timeline
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline entered a new chapter on October 1, 1978, when the two teams played their first ODI.
India won the historic match by four runs.
Pakistan, however, won the three-match ODI series 2–1.
The introduction of ODI cricket changed the rivalry. Matches became faster, totals became more important and individual moments could decide contests within a few hours.
During the 1980s and 1990s, neutral venues such as Sharjah and Toronto also became important locations for India-Pakistan cricket.
1980s–1990s: Sharjah Becomes a Rivalry Hotspot
Sharjah Cricket Stadium became one of the most famous venues in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
With bilateral cricket often difficult to arrange, neutral venues provided an opportunity for the teams to meet in front of enormous crowds.
Sharjah became particularly famous for Pakistan’s strong performances and huge support from South Asian cricket fans.
The period featured some of the greatest names in cricket, including Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
One moment, however, continues to stand above many others.
1986: Javed Miandad’s Last-Ball Six
On April 18, 1986, Pakistan faced India in the Austral-Asia Cup final at Sharjah.
Pakistan needed four runs from the final delivery with only one wicket remaining.
Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma’s full toss over midwicket for six.
Pakistan won by one wicket, with Miandad finishing unbeaten on 116.
That extraordinary finish became one of the most replayed moments in the entire Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
It also demonstrated why even a match that appears almost finished can change completely in one delivery.
1992: World Cup Rivalry Begins
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline reached the Cricket World Cup in 1992.
The two teams met at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India won by 43 runs.
The match became historically important because it began India’s remarkable winning record against Pakistan in men’s World Cup meetings.
For Pakistan, it would take many years before they finally defeated India in a World Cup match.
The World Cup setting added another layer of pressure to an already intense rivalry.
1996: India Win Again in Bengaluru
India and Pakistan met again in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final at Bengaluru.
India won by 39 runs.
The match contained plenty of drama, but India’s batting and bowling combination proved decisive.
This victory became another important entry in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline, particularly because the World Cup record was beginning to develop its own identity.
1999: Venkatesh Prasad’s Five-Wicket Haul
The 1999 World Cup meeting at Old Trafford produced another memorable Indian performance.
India scored 227/6, while Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 180.
Venkatesh Prasad was the standout performer, taking 5/27.
India won by 47 runs.
The result strengthened India’s growing World Cup dominance and added another memorable chapter to the Pakistan vs India World Cup timeline.
2003: Sachin Tendulkar’s 98
The 2003 World Cup meeting in Centurion remains one of the most famous matches in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
Pakistan scored 273/7, with Saeed Anwar producing an excellent century.
India then began the chase under enormous pressure.
Sachin Tendulkar responded with a spectacular 98 from 75 balls. His aggressive strokeplay against Pakistan’s bowling attack became one of the defining performances of that World Cup.
Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh completed the chase.
India won by six wickets.
2007: T20 Cricket Changes the Rivalry
The arrival of the inaugural T20 World Cup added a completely new chapter to the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
India and Pakistan met twice during the 2007 tournament.
Their group-stage match ended in a tie, but India won the bowl-out.
The two teams then reached the final in Johannesburg.
India defeated Pakistan by five runs to become the first men’s T20 World Cup champions.
The tournament introduced a new generation of fans to the rivalry and demonstrated that India-Pakistan matches could be just as dramatic in 20 overs as they had been over 50 overs or five days.
2007: Last Full Bilateral Series
Pakistan’s 2007 tour of India is another major milestone in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
The teams played Tests and ODIs during the tour.
The final Test in Bengaluru in December 2007 ended in a draw and remains the latest Test meeting between the two sides.
After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan was suspended.
Since then, most men’s meetings have taken place in ICC and ACC competitions.
2011: World Cup Semi-Final
The 2011 World Cup produced one of the biggest matches in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
India and Pakistan met in the semi-final at Mohali.
India scored 260/9, with Sachin Tendulkar making 85.
Pakistan’s chase never gained enough momentum and India won by 29 runs.
India then defeated Sri Lanka in the final to win the World Cup.
For India, the semi-final victory was a major step toward their historic home World Cup triumph.
2015: Virat Kohli Stars in Adelaide
The 2015 World Cup brought another major Pakistan vs India encounter at Adelaide.
Virat Kohli scored 107, helping India post a strong total.
Pakistan could not complete the chase and India won by 76 runs.
The victory meant India had won all six of their men’s World Cup meetings against Pakistan at that stage.
It became another major statistical milestone in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
2017: Pakistan Change the Story
The 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval produced one of the biggest turning points in the modern Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs.
Fakhar Zaman scored a century, while Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali played major roles with the ball.
Pakistan’s commanding victory was especially significant because it came in a major ICC final against India.
It proved that the balance of the rivalry could change quickly.
2019: India Continue World Cup Dominance
The 2019 World Cup meeting took place at Old Trafford.
India defeated Pakistan by 89 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Pakistan’s chase never gathered enough momentum, and India’s bowling attack maintained control.
By the end of the decade, India’s World Cup record against Pakistan had become one of the most discussed statistics in the rivalry.
2021: Pakistan Finally Beat India in a World Cup
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline witnessed a historic moment during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan completed the chase without losing a wicket.
This victory ended India’s previous unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan.
For Pakistan, it was a landmark result after years of disappointment in World Cup meetings.
2022: Virat Kohli’s Melbourne Masterclass
The 2022 T20 World Cup produced one of the most unforgettable chapters in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
Pakistan scored 159/8 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India’s chase looked in serious trouble at 31/3.
Virat Kohli then produced an extraordinary unbeaten 82 from 53 balls.
India reached 160/6 from the final delivery and won by four wickets.
Kohli’s innings became one of the defining performances in T20 World Cup history and another iconic moment in India-Pakistan cricket.
2023: World Cup Meeting in Ahmedabad
India and Pakistan met at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
India won by seven wickets.
The match attracted enormous worldwide attention and extended India’s winning record against Pakistan in men’s ODI World Cup matches.
The result added another major entry to the Pakistan vs India World Cup timeline.
2024: T20 World Cup Thriller
The 2024 T20 World Cup produced another extremely close contest.
India were bowled out for 119 in New York.
Pakistan appeared to be in a strong position during the chase but eventually finished on 113/7.
India won by six runs.
Jasprit Bumrah played a decisive role with the ball.
The match demonstrated once again how quickly momentum can change in an India-Pakistan T20 encounter.
2025: Champions Trophy Clash
The 2025 Champions Trophy provided another important entry in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
Pakistan scored 241 after batting first in Dubai.
India successfully chased the target, reaching 244/4 in 42.3 overs to win by six wickets.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100, while Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets.
Kohli’s century also took him to the milestone of 14,000 ODI runs.
2025: Three India-Pakistan Matches in the Asia Cup
The 2025 Asia Cup created an unusual chapter in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline because India and Pakistan met three times during the same tournament.
September 14, 2025 — Group Stage
Pakistan scored 127/9.
India chased the target in 15.5 overs, reaching 131/3 and winning by seven wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav was named Player of the Match after taking 3/18.
September 21, 2025 — Super Four
Pakistan improved their batting performance and scored 171/5.
India chased the total successfully, reaching 174/4 in 18.5 overs.
Abhishek Sharma scored 74 from 39 balls, while Shubman Gill contributed 47.
India won by six wickets.
September 28, 2025 — Asia Cup Final
The final became the biggest India-Pakistan meeting of the tournament.
Pakistan were bowled out for 146.
India reached 150/5 in 19.4 overs and won by five wickets.
Tilak Varma was named Player of the Match after scoring an unbeaten 69.
Three meetings, three Indian victories — making the 2025 Asia Cup one of the most significant recent phases of the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
2026: T20 World Cup
The rivalry continued during the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.
India scored 175/7, with Ishan Kishan leading the batting effort with 77 from 40 balls.
Pakistan were restricted to 114.
India therefore won by 61 runs.
The result further strengthened India’s recent record in major T20 encounters against Pakistan.
2026: Asian Games Final — Latest Chapter
The latest men’s international meeting in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline came on October 3, 2026, in the Asian Games final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
India won the toss and batted first.
Abhishek Sharma attacked from the opening overs and scored 61 from 28 balls.
Tilak Varma then added an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls as India reached 211/6.
Pakistan’s chase struggled early, but Hasan Nawaz kept the contest alive with an impressive 96 from 51 balls.
Pakistan eventually finished on 192/6.
India won by 19 runs and claimed another Asian Games gold medal.
This remains the latest men’s meeting in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline as of October 6, 2026.
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline: Major Matches
| Year | Competition | Result / Major Moment |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Test | India won first Test by an innings and 70 runs |
| 1978 | ODI | India won first ODI by 4 runs |
| 1992 | World Cup | India won by 43 runs |
| 1996 | World Cup | India won by 39 runs |
| 1999 | World Cup | India won by 47 runs |
| 2003 | World Cup | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | India won final by 5 runs |
| 2011 | World Cup | India won semi-final by 29 runs |
| 2015 | World Cup | India won by 76 runs |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy | Pakistan won final by 180 runs |
| 2019 | World Cup | India won by 89 runs |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | Pakistan won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2023 | World Cup | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | India won by 6 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2025 | Asia Cup | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2025 | Asia Cup Super Four | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2025 | Asia Cup Final | India won by 5 wickets |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | India won by 61 runs |
| 2026 | Asian Games Final | India won by 19 runs |
Pakistan vs India Head-to-Head Record
The overall numbers in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline depend on the format and statistical cutoff.
As of October 6, 2026, the rivalry record lists 59 Tests, 136 ODIs and 18 T20Is, giving a total of 213 meetings.
Pakistan have the advantage in Tests and ODIs, while India have the stronger T20I record.
| Format | Matches | More Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 59 | Pakistan |
| ODIs | 136 | Pakistan |
| T20Is | 18 | India |
| Total | 213 | Pakistan |
However, the head-to-head record does not tell the complete story.
The Pakistan vs India World Cup record has historically favoured India, while Pakistan have produced some major victories in the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup.
Why the Pakistan vs India Rivalry Has Changed
One of the biggest developments in the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline has been the disappearance of regular bilateral cricket.
The 2007 Pakistan tour of India was the last full bilateral series involving Tests and ODIs.
Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, bilateral cricket was suspended. Since then, most men’s meetings have taken place through ICC and ACC competitions.
This has made each tournament encounter more valuable.
When India and Pakistan meet at a World Cup, Champions Trophy or Asia Cup, the fixture can become the most anticipated match of the entire tournament.
The scarcity of meetings has arguably made the rivalry even bigger.
What Makes Pakistan vs India Cricket So Special?
The most interesting feature of the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline is how differently the rivalry has developed across formats.
Pakistan have historically performed strongly in Tests and ODIs, while India have built a particularly strong record in major global tournaments.
T20 cricket has added another layer.
Pakistan’s 2021 T20 World Cup victory showed that India’s tournament dominance could be broken. India’s dramatic 2022 response and subsequent victories in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 then shifted momentum back toward India.
Different generations of players have also created their own chapters.
Javed Miandad’s 1986 six, Venkatesh Prasad’s 1999 spell, Sachin Tendulkar’s 2003 innings, Virat Kohli’s 2022 masterclass, Jasprit Bumrah’s 2024 bowling performance and the contributions of players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma have all shaped the modern Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline.
Final Thoughts
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline has travelled a remarkable distance since the first Test in 1952.
From the early Test battles and the long political interruptions to Sharjah classics, World Cup clashes, T20 thrillers, Champions Trophy finals and Asia Cup encounters, every era has added something different to the rivalry.
India have dominated many of the most famous modern World Cup meetings, while Pakistan have produced landmark victories such as the 2017 Champions Trophy final and the 2021 T20 World Cup.
The latest chapter belongs to India after their 19-run victory over Pakistan in the 2026 Asian Games final.
With bilateral cricket still limited and tournament meetings carrying enormous importance, the next chapter of the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline will once again be watched closely by millions of cricket fans.
And that is perhaps the biggest reason this rivalry remains so special: no matter how the previous match ended, the next India-Pakistan contest always feels like a completely new story.
FAQs
1. When did India and Pakistan first play cricket?
India and Pakistan first met in Test cricket in 1952 during Pakistan’s tour of India. India won the first Test by an innings and 70 runs.
2. When was the first India vs Pakistan ODI?
The first ODI between India and Pakistan was played on October 1, 1978. India won by four runs.
3. When was the first India vs Pakistan T20I?
Their first T20I was played during the 2007 World Twenty20. The match ended in a tie, and India won through a bowl-out.
4. What was the latest India vs Pakistan men’s match?
The latest men’s meeting was the 2026 Asian Games final on October 3, 2026. India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs.
5. When did Pakistan first beat India in a World Cup match?
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.
6. How many times have India and Pakistan played each other?
According to the figures used in this article, India and Pakistan have played 213 matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is as of October 6, 2026.
7. Who has more wins between India and Pakistan?
Pakistan have the higher overall number of wins in the stated 213-match record, with 88 victories compared with India’s 82. However, India have the stronger T20I record and have dominated many recent major tournament meetings.
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