From Karachi to Colombo, the defining victories that stamped India's supremacy
Few rivalries in cricket are as fierce as the IND-PAK clashes in the Asia
Cup. In 19 encounters in the tournament's history, India leads the head-to-head with 10 wins, while PAK has achieved 6, and 3 matches have concluded without a result. Each match carries the weight of political undertones, sporting pride, and fanatical passion.
But amid the changing fortunes, India has produced some of its most commanding performances on this stage. Here are five of their most emphatic triumphs.
Colombo 2023: A 228-run demolition
In what remains India's most lopsided Asia Cup victory over their arch-rivals, the 2023 Super Four clash in Colombo featured Virat Kohli and KL Rahul delivering a batting masterclass. India scored 356 for 2, with Kohli unbeaten on 122 from 94 balls and Rahul striking 111 not out.
PAK’s reply was weak. They were bowled out for 128 in 32 overs, undone by Kuldeep Yadav’s 5 wickets for 25 runs. The 228-run victory margin is the largest in IND–PAK ODI history, a win secured with 18 overs to spare.
Dubai 2018: A one-sided masterclass
Five years earlier in Dubai, India chased 238 against PAK with utter confidence. Shikhar Dhawan scored 114 from 100 balls, while Rohit Sharma matched him with an unbeaten 111 off 119. Their 210-run opening stand overwhelmed PAK’s bowling, and India comfortably won by nine wickets in just 39.3 overs.
Credit: ESPN
PAK’s 237 for 7, anchored by Shoaib Malik’s 78, never looked sufficient. This was India at its most efficient, chasing the target with 63 balls to spare.
Dubai 2018: A rout inside 30 overs
Earlier in the same tournament, India had already set the tone. Bowling first, they dismissed PAK for 162 in just 43.1 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/15) and Kedar Jadhav (3/23) exposed Pakistan’s fragile middle order after Babar Azam’s promising 47.
Credit: ESPN
In reply, Rohit Sharma’s 52 and Dhawan’s 46 ensured India crossed the line easily - 164 for 2 in only 29 overs. The eight-wicket win, achieved with 126 balls to spare, highlighted India’s increasing gap in quality.
Karachi 2008: Sehwag and Raina's blitz
The 2008 Asia Cup group-stage clash in Karachi was a high-scoring classic - until India made it seem straightforward. Chasing 300, Virender Sehwag unleashed a whirlwind 119 off 95 balls, adorned with 12 fours and 5 sixes. He found ideal partners in Suresh Raina, who smashed 84 from 69 deliveries.
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Their 198-run partnership for the second wicket effectively ended PAK’s hopes, as India reached 301 for 4 in just 42.1 overs. Pakistan’s 299, built on Shoaib Malik’s 125 not out and Younis Khan’s 59, proved insufficient against India’s batting dominance.
Mirpur 2012: Kohli's magnum opus
Arguably, the most memorable individual performance in Asia Cup history took place in Mirpur. PAK had amassed 329 for 6, thanks to twin centuries from Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112). The total seemed formidable - until Virat Kohli delivered an innings of exceptional quality.
Credit: ESPN
His 183 from 148 balls, featuring 22 fours and a six, remains the highest individual score in the Asia Cup. Supported by Rohit Sharma (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (52), India chased the target in 47.5 overs, reaching 330 for 4, and won by six wickets with 13 balls remaining. Kohli’s assault on PAK’s seamers was a masterclass in timing, placement, and stamina.
