India and Pakistan prepare to cross paths once again at the T20 World Cup, following a high-tension period of a potential boycott. History looms large
over what remains cricket's most charged rivalry.
For all the drama, close finishes and iconic moments the fixture has produced, the tournament record tells a largely one-sided story, favoring India, but surely Pakistan have emerged victorious against their long-time rivals?
The short answer is: yes, once.
India national cricket team had dominated ICC T20 World Cup meetings with Pakistan national cricket team for years, but Pakistan's solitary World Cup victory over India came in the Super 12 stage of the 2021 tournament in Dubai.
Chasing 152, Pakistan reached 152/0 in 17.5 overs - a 10-wicket win powered by an undefeated 152-run opening stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan that emphatically broke Pakistan's World Cup duck against India.
India-Pakistan T20 head-to-head and context
Across T20 World Cups specifically, India lead the head-to-head comfortably (India 7 wins, Pakistan 1). Extend that to all bilateral T20Is and the gap is still wide: historically India have won far more meetings than Pakistan (roughly a 13-3 margin in T20s overall).
So Pakistan's 2021 victory was notable not just because it was emphatic, but because it was so rare, the first time Pakistan had beaten India in any men's World Cup (50-over or T20).
Why the 2021 result mattered
India had never lost a World Cup game to Pakistan before 2021. Breaking that streak had symbolic weight that went beyond the two points in a pool table.
To secure this victory, Pakistan's openers removed the pressure from a typically charged fixture by batting sensibly and aggressively in partnership, turning a tense chase into a procession. That 152* stand neutralised any chance for India to apply scoreboard pressure.
The result boosted Pakistan's confidence in Super 12s and showed how, in T20s, a single dominant partnership can swing a big game, especially in conditions that suit batting.
What it means going into 2026
When India and Pakistan meet again at their next World Cup clash is scheduled for Feb 15, 2026, in Colombo, the 2021 result will be remembered but not decisive. T20 cricket is volatile; form, team makeup, conditions and matchups matter more than history.
Still, Pakistan's 2021 win is a reminder that despite India's long run of superiority the rivalry always has room for an upset. For neutral fans, that unpredictability is the rivalry's enduring appeal.
