India vs Pakistan is once again the talk of the town as the arch-rivals get ready to reignite their rivalry in the Asia Cup 2023.
The Men in Blue will open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan in Pallekele on September 02, 2023.
This will be the first time that India and Pakistan will meet in a one-day international since the 2019 World Cup.
Overall, both sides have locked horns 13 times in Asia Cup (ODI) history, with India coming out on top on 7 occasions.
The last time there was an India vs Pakistan fixture in Sri Lanka (in 2010), it proved to be a mouth-watering encounter, where India trumped their arch-rivals by 3 wickets in the final over of their innings.
Over the years, there have been plenty of memorable India vs Pakistan ODIs in the Asia Cup.
Here's a look at the 3 most remarkable India vs Pakistan matches in Asia Cup history:
#3 India vs Pakistan, Mirpur 2012
This India vs Pakistan match-up from Asia Cup 2012 is historic for several reasons.
Firstly, it proved to be the last-ever ODI that Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar ever played. And, secondly, it was in this very match that the baton of Indian batting royalty was truly passed from Sachin to Virat Kohli.
Pakistan batted first, and their opening duo of Mohammad Hafeez (105 off 113) and Nasir Jamshed (112 off 104) made full use of a flat batting strip and an equally flatter Indian bowling attack to hammer a 224-run-stand.
At one stage, it looked as if Pakistan would easily get past the 350-run mark, but the Indian bowlers, especially Ashok Dinda (2/47 in 8) came back really well at the death to restrict them to 329/6.
Chasing a mammoth total of 330, the Indians couldn't have asked for a worse start as they lost Gautam Gambhir for a 2-ball duck.
But, little did anyone know what was about to follow. As the prince (Virat) joined the Master in the middle, the runs started to flow for the Indians.
The duo went on to add 133 runs for the 2nd wicket, with Sachin scoring yet another half-century. The partnership was finally broken by Saeed Ajmal, who deceived the Master from around the wicket and induced an outside edge, which was safely pouched by Younis Khan at 1st slip.
However, there proved to be no respite for the Pakistani bowlers as Virat decided to take charge of the run-chase with full venom.
And, for a better part of the next 30 overs, he proceeded to paint the Sher-e-Bangla stadium with glorious and arrogant stroke play against the likes of Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and Wahab Riaz.
Kohli hammered 22 fours and a six during his magical knock of 183 (off 148 deliveries). And, by the time he was dismissed, he had all but ensured that the result was a mere formality.
Result: India won by 6 wickets
Also Read: Top Knocks by Virat Kohli in Asia Cup history
#2 India vs Pakistan, Dhaka 2014
The India vs Pakistan encounter from the 2014 Asia Cup was a low-scoring pot-boiler where Shahid Afridi 'BOOM BOOMED' in the end to break a billion hearts.
Chasing a poultry total of 246, Pakistan got off to a great start as their opening duo of Sharjeel Khan (25 off 30) and Ahmad Shehzad (42 off 44) erased 71 runs from the target in just 11 overs.
But, the introduction of spin and a shoddy batting display from the middle-order meant that they were soon reduced to 113/4 in the 23rd over.
Mohammad Hafeez (75 off 117) and Sohaib Maqsood (38 off 53) steadied the ship with a patient 87-run-stand before calamity struck again.
R Ashwin removed Hafeez while Maqsood got run out within a space of 3 runs, and all of a sudden, India was right back in it.
However, Shahid Afridi had other plans. With 9 needed off the last 4 deliveries, the enigmatic hitter slogged Ashwin out of the park on consecutive deliveries to seal a jailbreak for the Pakistanis.
Earlier, an efficient bowling performance from Pakistan ensured that India could only manage 245/8 in 50 overs. The top-order, barring Rohit Sharma (56 off 58), struggled to get going, and it was only because of half-centuries from Ambati Rayudu (58 off 62) and Ravindra Jadeja (52* off 49) that they were able to get close to the 250-run mark.
Result: Pakistan won by 1 wicket (with 2 balls remaining)
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah: Increased Run-up, Renewed Venom & Hostility
#1 India vs Pakistan, Dambulla 2010
Emotions and temper can run wild during an India vs Pakistan encounter, and the 2010 Asia Cup fixture is a true testimony to the same.
This game had it all: brilliant batting, skillful bowling, heated moments, not once, but twice, and a thrilling last-over finish, with Harbhajan Singh smashing Shoaib Akhtar out of the park and letting out a guttural roar.
Pakistan batted first, and on the back of half-centuries from opener Salman Butt (74 off 85) and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (51 off 41), they managed to post 267 in 49.3 overs.
Chasing 268, India was in a spot of bother after they lost Virender Sehwag (10 off 32) and Virat Kohli (18 off 27) cheaply.
It is at this point that Gautam Gambhir (83 off 97) and skipper MS Dhoni (56 off 71) came together to resurrect the sinking ship.
The duo displayed a masterclass in percentage cricket as they milked the Pakistani spinners, including Saeed Ajmal (3/56 in 10) at will.
As they kept chipping away at the target, the frustration of the Pakistanis grew manyfold. Kamran Akmal, especially, kept appealing continuously, which eventually riled up Gambhir, and the duo got embroiled in an epic face-off.
The 98-run-stand was eventually broken by Ajmal, who dismantled Gambhir's attempt to back-cut by dislodging the southpaw's stumps.
This led to a mini-collapse as India slid to 219/6 in the 46th over. Suresh Raina once again came to the party with a handy 27-ball 34 to take India to the brink.
But, when he was finally dismissed, India still needed another 6 runs from 3 deliveries to seal the deal.
However, Harbhajan Singh, who had just been fired up because of a verbal spat with Shoaib Akhtar, proceeded to come to the party as he launched Mohammad Amir for a massive six over mid-wicket which to this day continues to echo in the folklore of India vs Pakistan cricket ecosystem.
Result: India won by 3 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
