India vs Pakistan matches always end up being a spectacle for the fans on both sides. The high-intensity clash between the arch-rivals is always a game of great anticipation with much at stake for players from both the teams. However, it is unfortunate that India and Pakistan no more lock horns in bi-lateral competitions. It is only the ICC tournaments where one gets to relive Indo-Pak rivalry in the limited-overs format.
While both the nations have had a historic rivalry, India and Pakistan have managed to produce some on-filed thrillers and nail-biting finishes. We take a ride down the memory lane in revisiting some of those India vs Pakistan ODI matches that saw fireworks on the cricket field.
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Here's a look at five most thrilling India vs Pakistan ODI matches since the 2000s:
1. Tri-nation Carlton & United Series, 2nd ODI Brisbane, 2000
In the Tri-nation series involving India, Pakistan and hosts Australia in 2000, arch-rivals were up against each other at Brisbane in the 2nd match. It was indeed a memorable fixture as both the teams played a nail-biting thriller. Batting first, India could only score 195 in their 50 overs while a furious spell from Shoaib Akhtar saw breaks on Indian total.
However, the Pakistani top-order couldn't resist the Indian pace attack as the ‘Men in Green' were reduced to 6/71. However, their lower-order showed resilience as Pakistan stumbled their way to a 2-wicket win on the last delivery of the match. Mohammad Yousuf was declared the Player of the match for his valiant knock of 63 in an eventful run-chase.
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2. India tour of Pakistan, 1st ODI Karachi, 2004
In the first ODI at Karachi in the 2004 ODI series, India batted first to post a huge total on the board. Indian top-order came to all guns blazing and clobbered the home team to all parts of the ground. Chasing an improbable target of 350 runs on a flat wicket, Pakistan didn't witness greatest of starts.
However, skipper Inzamam ul-Haq kept his nerve and played the anchor's role to keep Pakistan's hopes alive in the contest. Despite Inzamam's brilliant century, the home team fell short by 5 runs as India took an early 1-0 lead in the ODI series. It indeed proved to be a successful tour for the Indian team as they returned triumphant in ODIs as well as in the Test series.
3. World Cup Semi-Final at Mohali 2011
In the much-hyped World Cup Semi-final at Mohali in 2011, the stage was set for yet another cracker of a contest between the two arch-rivals. India batted first to post 260 runs in their 50 overs after Sachin Tendulkar did the bulk of the scoring along with Suresh Raina who gave the flourish at the back-end of the innings.
In a tough chase, Pakistan began well before their surge towards the target was halted by the Indian pace attack. The trio of Zaheer, Nehra and Munaf inflicted damage at regular intervals. With wickets that continued to tumble, even Misbah ul-Haq couldn't guide his team home as Pakistan went down by 29 runs. India progressed to the World Cup Final and went onto the lift the World title after 28 years.
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4. Pakistan tour of India, 3rd ODI, Delhi, 2013
In the last bilateral ODI series between India and Pakistan, the ‘Men in Blue' hosted their neighbours for a limited-overs series in 2012/13. While the T20IS series ended at 1-1, the visitors won the ODI series by a margin of 2-1. Having already won the first two ODIs, Pakistan were clinical with the ball in the first half of the third ODI at Delhi. The tourists restricted India to a low total of 167 in the first innings.
However, with the pitch assisting the seamers, the Indian pace attack extracted even more purchase from the track to make it a low-scoring thriller. The home team outclassed their opponents and pulled off a thrilling 10-run victory in the third ODI at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. It was one of the most entertaining ODI series that was played on the Indian soil during that phase.
5. Asia Cup, 6th ODI at Dhaka, 2014
In the Asia Cup 2014 in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan once again produced a great spectacle for the viewers on both sides. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, India batted first and scored a decent total of 245 in their 50 overs. A confident Pakistan side had a brilliant start with the bat before a middle-order collapse saw them on the backfoot.
The Indian trio of spinners including Mishra, Ashwin and Jadeja, managed to put the opposition line-up under some consistent pressure. It was courtesy of Indian bowlers that the match went down to the wire. Requiring 10 off the last over, Shahid Afridi delivered the goods in his trademark style when he thumped Ashwin for two sixes to secure a 1-wicket win for Pakistan.
