India vs Pakistan: Which is the better country in cricket and why?

India vs Pakistan: Which is the better country in cricket and why?

Samuel Lisubila
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:13 PM

Initially played in southeast England, Cricket was invented in the 18th century and developed through the 19th and 20th centuries. It has now become one of the world's most popular and competitive sports, with intense rivalries that are unmatched in the sports world. India and Pakistan are two of the best countries in the game, and sports pundits and fans are always in a fix to determine who is better.

India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry
Babar Azam of Pakistan and Virat Kohli of India interact ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match at Dubai International Stadium on 24 October 2021. Photo: Michael Steele
Source: Getty Images

India has been good in cricket since they began participating in the sport in 1792, earning multiple awards that would take a lifetime for other teams to attain. But on the other hand, Pakistan is successful in the bat-and-ball game thanks to its competitive nature, towering over big wigs like England and South Africa to clinch several World titles.

India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry

It is not enough to say that Indian and Pakistan players and fans love the game of cricket. It is more of a way of life that has dominated their cultures and traditions. An obsession that has passed boundaries, causing players from both teams to routinely face intense pressure to win and suffer irrational reactions in defeat.

India National cricket team

India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry
Indian team with the series trophy following the 3rd T20 international match between India and South Africa at Holkar Stadium on 4 October 2022, in Indore, India. Photo: Pankaj Nangia
Source: Getty Images

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Known as Team India or the Men in Blue, India's national team is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, formed in December 1928. The team is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council with Test, One day International, and Twenty20 International status.

Team India participated in its first International match on 25 June 1932 in a Lord's Test and became the sixth team to be granted Test cricket status. However, in the early stages of its development, the team wasn't doing well, waiting for over twenty years for its first Test victory.

They, however, gained strength in the 1970s after an unsuccessful 50-year run with only 35 wins in 196 Tests. This was thanks to the emergence of outstanding players like Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath, Kapil Dev, and of course, the Indian spin quartet, one of the most deadly combinations in world cricket.

Through the 21st century, the Men in Blue have undergone significant improvements. They have grown to be one of the best teams in the world, clinching multiple world titles with excellent players led by their most abled captain, Rohit Sharma.

Pakistan national cricket team

Pakistan vs India best players
Pakistan players line up for the national anthem during the DP World Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan on 4 September 2022, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Francois Nel
Source: Getty Images

The Pakistan National cricket team is governed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, established on 1 May 1949. It was then affiliated with the International Cricket Council in 1952 and participated in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International cricket matches.

Often referred to as the Shaheens, Green Shirts, Men in Green, and Cornered Tigers, the squad is lethal, destroying teams like never before and claiming titles like no other team. Like any other group, they have had downfalls, but theirs were different.

They were not so good in the early stages of the game, losing their first Test game to India in October 1952 in a 2-1 series. However, they have never turned back and are one of the most successful teams in modern cricket.

India vs Pakistan cricket stats

The two squads have met on different occasions, the latest being during the 2022 Asian cup.

So, which is the better country when it comes to cricket and why?

India vs Pakistan cricket stats
Mohammad Rizwan (left) of Pakistan bats during the DP World Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan on 4 September 2022, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Francois Nel
Source: Getty Images

In the first game, India became victors in a tense, closely-fought encounter. However, Pakistan did not hold back and managed to pull down an extraordinary chase to India's 181/7 in a last-over finish for a famous win. As a result, India was knocked out of the competition while their rivals proceeded to the finals, where Sri Lanka beat them in a stunning 23-run victory.

India vs Pakistan cricket wins

In the decades the sport has existed, the two teams have been a menace to other teams. They have won a lot of matches, and most importantly, they also have met.

Has Pakistan defeated India in cricket?

When the two teams meet, it is considered a derby. In 2022, it recorded a cumulative viewership reach of 167 million, making it the most viewed T20l match in history outside of world cups. In their 202 meetings, Pakistan has won 88 matches, compared to India's 71.

India vs Pakistan cricket squad

The two bat-and-ball teams have great squads that are considered the best players in the game. India's updated 15-member squad as of September 2022 includes:

  1. Rohit Sharma (captain)
  2. KL Rahul (vice-captain)
  3. Virat Kohli
  4. Suryakumar Yadav
  5. Deepak Hooda
  6. Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
  7. Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper)
  8. Hardik Pandya
  9. Ravindra Jadeja
  10. R.Ashwin
  11. Yuzvendra Chahal
  12. Ravi Bishnoi
  13. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
  14. Arshdeep Singh
  15. Avesh Khan

Team Pakistan

  1. Babar Azam (captain)
  2. Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
  3. Asif Ali
  4. Fakhar Zaman
  5. Haider Ali
  6. Haris Rauf
  7. Iftikhar Ahmed
  8. Khushdil Shah
  9. Mohammad Nawaz
  10. Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
  11. Mohammad Wasim Jr.
  12. Naseem Shah
  13. Shahnawaz Dahani
  14. Usman Qadir

India vs Pakistan cricket all-time stats

The two hit squads have the best statistics in the game's history that other teams can only dream of. However, there is one that has stood out. The all-time stats for the two teams are summarized below:

Format

Matches

India won

Pakistan won

Draw/Tie/NR

Test

59

9

12

38

ODI

132

55

73

4

T20l

11

8

3

0

Total

200

71

87

43

Tournament

50-over World Cup

7

7

0

0

T20 World Cup

6

4

1

1

Total

13

11

1

1

India vs Pakistan cricket trophies

India vs Pakistan cricket trophies
India captain Virat Kohli and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed hold the ICC Champions Trophy for a final at The Kia Oval on 17 June 2017, in London, England. Photo: Gareth Copley
Source: Getty Images

Many measure success by the awards and trophies teams get throughout their existence. As accurate as this is, more should be considered to judge whether one is greater than the other.

How many trophies have India and Pakistan won?

India has won 2 ICC World Cups, 1 ICC World Twenty20, and 2 ICC Champion's Trophies, while Pakistan has a Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, 2 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, 2 ACC Asia Cups, and the ICC Test Championship in 2016

Which cricket team is more successful? India or Pakistan?

If the awards and trophies measure success, then Pakistan clinches the title as it has overpowered the Men in Blue. However, they are in a tight race which doesn't require a lot of time to change but a lot of effort, skill, and zeal for the opposing team.

Who has won many ODI, India or Pakistan?

Who has won many ODI, India or Pakistan?
Pakistan fans hold up signs of India not qualifying for the Semi-Finals in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 7 November 2021, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Michael Steele
Source: Getty Images

The two greats have met in 132 ODI matches. Of these, India has won 55 while Pakistan has a whopping 73. 4 matches have ended with no result.

Has Pakistan defeated India in cricket?

In the Asian Cup 2022, Pakistan knocked out India after they defeated Afghanistan by one wicket in a tense Super 4 match in Sharjah. However, the Shaheens reached the finals, where they lost to Sri Lanka.

Is Pakistan richer than India?

According to the World Bank, India is ranked 147 (nominal) and 130 (PPP), while Pakistan is at 160 (nominal) and 144 (PPP). This means India is much richer than Pakistan as it is an enormous country with a more developed economy.

Was Pakistan's game spot-fixed?

In August 2010, there was a rare spot-fixing case in a Test match between England and Pakistan. The scandal was centered around three Men in Green who accepted bribes from a bookmarker to bowl no balls at specific points during the game.

Was Pakistan's game spot-fixed?
India vs Pakistan cricket. Which is the better country when it comes to cricket and why?
Source: Getty Images

As a result, the three payers, team captain Salman, and the fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for 5 to 10 years.

With the tension built between the two teams, all pressure goes on to the players. The rivalry that has existed for almost 70 years doesn't seem to stop anytime soon, as no team is ready to back down. Only one question is yet to be answered; will there ever be any rivalry as such in the bat-and-ball game?

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Authors
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Samuel Lisubila