The India-Pakistan Finals mark yet another significant final in cricket history. As it turns out, in Asia Cup’s 41-year-old history, this was the first time that two subcontinent rivals met in the final of the Asian Championship.
India has already defeated Pakistan twice in this Asia Cup, but the final match on Sunday is the only one that really matters now. India will be eyeing their record 9th title, while Pakistan will be looking for their 3rd, their first since 2012.
The tournament has met with plenty of controversies, such as no shaking of hands, angry verbals, and proactive actions that came from the military conflict between the two countries earlier this year.
As we await that high clash, starting on Sunday, Sept 28, we look back at their previous clashes across Men’s international cricket.
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A list of every India-Pakistan Finals – Who holds the edge?
A total of 12 matches have been played by India and Pakistan across Men’s international cricket. Pakistan holds a big gap between them, winning eight of those titles while India won four. Here’s the complete record:
1. 1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship Final
India quickly chased down Pakistan’s 176/9 in 50 overs in Melbourne on March 10, 1985, with 177/2 in 47.1 overs, winning by 8 wickets with 17 balls remaining. India’s openers paced the chase with little fuss, while Kapil Dev claimed three wickets.
With the win, India improved their ODI standing worldwide and advanced to the final of a historic competition honouring Australia’s European settlement. It is still regarded as one of the early classics in the India-Pakistan rivalry and demonstrated India’s capacity to perform well under pressure in crucial games.
2. 1986 Austral-Asia Cup Final
On April 18, 1986, India scored 245/7 in 50 overs in Sharjah. Javed Miandad’s six off the last ball of the match took Pakistan to 248/9 and a one-wicket victory after they had been agonizingly short of their target of 246.
One of the most memorable moments in India-Pakistan cricket history, Miandad’s last-ball six was instantly legendary and replayed for decades. The game also demonstrated Pakistan’s composure during close chases, and it is frequently brought up when discussing clutch plays in crucial matches.
3. 1991 Wills Trophy Final
Pakistan achieved a dominant 262/6 in 50 overs in Sharjah on October 25, 1991, thanks to solid batting from Saleem Malik (87) and Zahid Fazal (98). India’s response fell short by 72 runs, managing just 190 in 46 overs. The outcome was ensured by Aaqib Javed’s 7/37 spell.
This victory highlighted Pakistan’s bowling depth and reaffirmed their supremacy in Sharjah events in the early 1990s. Such triumphs enhanced Pakistan’s reputation in limited-overs cricket and gave them a psychological advantage over India in subsequent matches, at a time when neutral-venue finals were the standard.
4. 1994 Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup Final
In Sharjah on 22 April 1994, Pakistan opened the batting and scored 250 runs for six wickets, with Aamer Sohail and other players leading the charge. India struggled and were all out for 211 runs in 47.4 overs, resulting in a 39-run victory for Pakistan. Aamer Sohail was named the Man of the Match.
This win brought Pakistan another trophy from the Asia region, showing their ability to perform well in subcontinental conditions. It also continued Pakistan’s strong record of beating India in finals, and helped boost their position in regional competitions during the 1990s.
5. 1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup
The 1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup was played with the best-of-3 finals. India and Pakistan qualified after both teams beat Bangladesh.
India won the first final comprehensively. They chased down Pakistan’s 213 with eight wickets to spare. Pakistan, in turn, dismissed India for 189 in the 2nd final and won the match by six wickets. In the deciding final, Pakistan put on a strong total of 314. India chased it down with three wickets remaining, winning the best-of-3 finals 2-1.
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6. 1999 Pepsi Cup Final
In the 1998-99 Pepsi Triangular series in India, Pakistan beat India in the final. Although it wasn’t as dramatic as some other matches in public memory, it showed Pakistan’s ability to maintain good form from the group stages all the way to the finals. Winning the final on Indian soil increased Pakistan’s reputation in away tournaments and helped create a more balanced competition in the India-Pakistan ODI matches.
7. 1998 Coca-Cola Cup Final
In Sharjah on 16 April 1999, India scored 125 runs, losing all their wickets cheaply. Pakistan then chased down the target easily, scoring 129 runs for the loss of two wickets in 28 overs. They won by 8 wickets with 22 overs remaining. Wasim Akram was named the Player of the Match.
This match highlighted Pakistan’s strong performance in the Sharjah finals during that time, especially with their bowlers effectively breaking India’s batting line-up. The clear victory added to the mental pressure on India in the Sharjah tournaments and strengthened Pakistan’s image as a top team in ODI finals held outside their home country.
8. 2007 Men’s T20 World Cup Final
In the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Final held in Johannesburg, India scored 157 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs, with Gautam Gambhir scoring 75 runs off 54 balls, leading the team. Pakistan responded by making 152 runs but were all out in 19.3 overs, falling five runs short of the target.
The game is remembered as an exciting and tense final, with Irfan Pathan taking 3 wickets for 16 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award. This victory marked India’s first-ever T20 World Cup title, and winning against Pakistan in such a high-pressure final helped build their confidence in the shortest format of the game.
9. 2008 Kitply Cup Final
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the 2008 Kitply Cup final, Pakistan beat India by 25 runs. This win showed Pakistan’s strong performance in multi-team tournaments and their ability to stay calm and play well in important matches.
Even though this final wasn’t as famous as others, it helped Pakistan stay consistent in such events. It also added to the history of the India-Pakistan rivalry played in neutral places during the T20 and ODI formats. The victory also showed how well Pakistan can adjust and perform in different conditions.
10. 2017 Champions Trophy Final
In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final at The Oval, Pakistan surprised India with a strong all-around performance. Fakhar Zaman hit a great century, helping Pakistan score 338 for 4. Then, Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali did a great job with the ball, bowling India out for 158. This led to a big 180-run win for Pakistan.
This was Pakistan’s first time winning the Champions Trophy and one of their most unforgettable wins against India. It became a key moment in their cricket history. The victory also showed the rise of new players like Fakhar and Hasan Ali.
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