Brief analysis of all 6 World Cup encounters between India v Pakistan

[Sarwar89]

Sydney 1992.

Aamer Sohail went for 20 in 3 overs and Mushtaq Ahmed gave away 60 runs in 10 overs, although he took 3 wickets. Kapil Dev's aggressive batting in the end made it 216 in 49 overs, otherwise at one stage it looked India will not cross 200. Tendulkar played a handy role in dismissing Aamer Sohail and that was turning point of entire match. From 105/2, Pakistan collapsed spectacularly, Miandad got involved in needless confrontation with Kiran More, rest is history.
One big disappointment was Zahid Fazal, who only 4 months ago scored brilliant 98 in Sharjah Cup Final against India. Srinath bowled very well.
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Bangalore 96 World Cup Quarter Final.

1) Jadeja/Kumble/Srinath ended up smashing Waqar Younis and Aaquib Javed in the last 3 overs, score of 235 in 47 overs, ended up on 287 in 50. Instead it should have been MAX 260.
2) Turning point of Match was once again Aamer Sohail's Dismissal by Venkatesh Prasad, required run rate at that time was only 5.10 with 9 wickets left. But Aamer lost his cool and rest is history.
3) Rashid Latif could have won us the match, but he was overly adventurous. 57 were needed in 41 balls at that time.

Inzamam and Ijaz failure were really disappointing.
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Old Trafford 1999.

228 was very much in range. Bowling was tight and it was below par score. Shoaib Akhtar was disappointing. Shahid Afridi was also disappointing. Only 3 months earlier he scored majestic 141 in chennai test.

Srinath's tore apart Pakistan's top order, only 3 months earlier Srinath took 13 wickets in Eden Gardens Calcutta Test match but Shoaib Akhtar stole the show.
Venkatesh Prasad brought back his heroics of 1996, he tore apart Pakistan's middle and latter order. His wicket of Saeed Anwar changed the course of match. Only 4 months earlier Prasad did similar havoc in Chennai Test match but Saqlain stole the show.
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Centurian 2003.

271 was below par score on that excellent wicket. Should have score more than 310.
Razzaq dropped Sachin Tnedulkar earlier on, Shoaib Akhtar was taken apart and Waqar Younis was also disappointing. Sachin single handedly stole the show and India chased it down in 45 odd overs. Comfortable win.

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Mohali 2011.

at 142/4, Pakistan went into defensive, allowed Sachin and Raina to settle down. Dropped Sachin on 1/2 times as well. Sehwag's initial innings turned out to be decisive. 260 on slow wicket was sort of just par score.

Misbah and Younis khan scored 16 combined runs from 40 balls, Hafeez and Kamran Akmal's gifted wickets, those 4 factors were main turning points of historic defeat. Hafeez and Kamran Akmal started so well, just as Saeed Anwar and Afridi started well in 1999.
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Adelaide 2015.

Kohli's innings made the entire difference. Sohail Khan's late 5 wickets controlled india to 300 otherwise 330 was on cards.

This chase was never on cards due to weak batting line up.
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Out of all these 6 matches. The most decisive moment in 6 encounters.

Aamer Sohail's confrontation with Venkatesh Prasad in Bangalore 96. That one moment changed everything for future.
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Inzamam ul Haq did not make even 1 single contribution in all 92,96,99,03 defeats.

 

[Captain caveman]

1996 turning point - captain wasim akram did not play due to injury apparently just before start of play!
I remember the score being 180 after 25 overs and pak requiring just 107 in the last 25 overs at a run rate of just over 4. But instead of playing sensibly amir and anwar continued playing big shots. Yes aamir got out due to his needless agression with venkedesh, but come on, the other 8 batsman could not score 107 from 25 overs at 4 runs an over.

 

[Sarwar89]

1996 turning point - captain wasim akram did not play due to injury apparently just before start of play!
I remember the score being 180 after 25 overs and pak requiring just 107 in the last 25 overs at a run rate of just over 4. But instead of playing sensibly amir and anwar continued playing big shots. Yes aamir got out due to his needless agression with venkedesh, but come on, the other 8 batsman could not score 107 from 25 overs at 4 runs an over.

what ?
182/5 IN 35 Overs mate not in 25 overs.
104 were needed in 14 overs by that time.

ICC Deducted 1 over for Pakistan due to slow over rate.

 

[Captain caveman]

2011 Wc - amir, asif and butt banned.
Malik and M.yousuf omitted from the side for younis and shafiq - BIG MISTAKE!
With malik and yousuf instead of younis and shafiq, we would have probably won this wc.
The only time pak team needed malik and he was not selected.

 

[MMHS]

This is a good thread. Here are my takes of those 6 encounters, each of which I had seen almost ball by ball.

1992 - PAK was just in shambles at that time, probably would have lost to SRL as well had they played instead of IND. Those days, SCG was a massive batting first venue and IND won a crucial toss. I think, there was not much surprise in that game - once IND was batting first, they were favorites to win the game. IND was surprise under performer in that WC - they played very good cricket against AUS, ENG, SAF & NZ, just failed to win crucial moments in close losses. Against AUS, they were damn unlucky as well.

1996 - the biggest culprit was Saeed Anwar. That day, IND was 1 (two actually) bowlers short and PAK openers put 85-0 in 10 overs against 10 of IND's best 30 overs including couple from Kumble. After 10 overs, Azhar took almost 5 minutes to decide 11th over and eventually went for one last over of Srinath - Saeed was brutally killing Indian attack for 48 of 29 (?), then decided to play the least percentage shot of cricket - clearing deep mid on against a right arm pacer bringing the ball into left-hander from over the wicket, when the target was 205 in 39 overs on an absolute batting paradise, under dew and IND had to make up 20 overs through Ashis Kapoor, Tendulkar & Jadeja. Amir, Ijaz played poor shots and Inzi got out to identical ball/shot after being dropped by Mongia in previous over. Before that, Akram managed to get injured in a useless game against NZL!!!

1999 - Srinath & Prashad bowled exceptionally well with new ball and then Prashad closed it in a game PAK was already but through to SF. I think, 3 Indian main bowlers had one of their games of career together, which was too much for PAK batting and Indian catching was brilliant that day.

2003 - whoever was behind the call but his accounts must had to be checked for that decision at toss. That time, Centurion had like 9-1 W/L ratio for teams chasing in day games and that was even a delayed start after morning showers!!!!! I do believe IND was a better team by then (lost only twice in that WC, both times to those frightening Aussies) and that call at toss made it sure that PAK had no chance. ARazzak dropped an easy chance of SRT early, but still I don't think 270ish total was enough there - IND won with plenty at hand.

2011- IND was much better team by then, won a crucial toss as well. But, what killed PAK was nerves - you don't win WC SF after dropping 5 dollies, 3 times to the MoM. Wahab's bowling apparently made PAK batting the villein, but those 5 drops allowed IND to cross critical target - 260 was never on, on that track, against IND.

2015 - a fair reflection of the gap between two teams, no surprises there. Yasir's drop made it sure that it'll end in an one sided contest, but IND was always overwhelming favorites.

 

[Sarwar89]

1996 turning point - captain wasim akram did not play due to injury apparently just before start of play!
I remember the score being 180 after 25 overs and pak requiring just 107 in the last 25 overs at a run rate of just over 4. But instead of playing sensibly amir and anwar continued playing big shots. Yes aamir got out due to his needless agression with venkedesh, but come on, the other 8 batsman could not score 107 from 25 overs at 4 runs an over.

I am surprised how could you even say Pakistan were 180 in 25 overs. just unbelievable.
they were 182 in 35 overs.

 

[Sarwar89]

This is a good thread. Here are my takes of those 6 encounters, each of which I had seen almost ball by ball.

1992 - PAK was just in shambles at that time, probably would have lost to SRL as well had they played instead of IND. Those days, SCG was a massive batting first venue and IND won a crucial toss. I think, there was not much surprise in that game - once IND was batting first, they were favorites to win the game. IND was surprise under performer in that WC - they played very good cricket against AUS, ENG, SAF & NZ, just failed to win crucial moments in close losses. Against AUS, they were damn unlucky as well.

1996 - the biggest culprit was Saeed Anwar. That day, IND was 1 (two actually) bowlers short and PAK openers put 85-0 in 10 overs against 10 of IND's best 30 overs including couple from Kumble. After 10 overs, Azhar took almost 5 minutes to decide 11th over and eventually went for one last over of Srinath - Saeed was brutally killing Indian attack for 48 of 29 (?), then decided to play the least percentage shot of cricket - clearing deep mid on against a right arm pacer bringing the ball into left-hander from over the wicket, when the target was 205 in 39 overs on an absolute batting paradise, under dew and IND had to make up 20 overs through Ashis Kapoor, Tendulkar & Jadeja. Amir, Ijaz played poor shots and Inzi got out to identical ball/shot after being dropped by Mongia in previous over. Before that, Akram managed to get injured in a useless game against NZL!!!

1999 - Srinath & Prashad bowled exceptionally well with new ball and then Prashad closed it in a game PAK was already but through to SF. I think, 3 Indian main bowlers had one of their games of career together, which was too much for PAK batting and Indian catching was brilliant that day.

2003 - whoever was behind the call but his accounts must had to be checked for that decision at toss. That time, Centurion had like 9-1 W/L ratio for teams chasing in day games and that was even a delayed start after morning showers!!!!! I do believe IND was a better team by then (lost only twice in that WC, both times to those frightening Aussies) and that call at toss made it sure that PAK had no chance. ARazzak dropped an easy chance of SRT early, but still I don't think 270ish total was enough there - IND won with plenty at hand.

2011- IND was much better team by then, won a crucial toss as well. But, what killed PAK was nerves - you don't win WC SF after dropping 5 dollies, 3 times to the MoM. Wahab's bowling apparently made PAK batting the villein, but those 5 drops allowed IND to cross critical target - 260 was never on, on that track, against IND.

2015 - a fair reflection of the gap between two teams, no surprises there. Yasir's drop made it sure that it'll end in an one sided contest, but IND was always overwhelming favorites.

Yes Centurian thing was mystery. Agreed, should have batted 2nd.

There was a replica match between India v Pakistan on 18th October 1991. at Sharjah. India batted first scored 238 and Pakistan collapsed after ok start and all out 178. That was 4 months before sydney clash.

I genuinely think Ijaz and Inzamam wickets in 96 came via poor immature shots, little bit of patience was needed.

 

[Captain caveman]

what ?
182/5 IN 35 Overs mate not in 25 overs.
104 were needed in 14 overs by that time.

ICC Deducted 1 over for Pakistan due to slow over rate.

From my memory it was 180 in 25 overs!
Anwar and aamir were brutalising the indian bowling attack with big hits and team india were rattled. This is before teams went big in the first 15 overs. SL also started this trend in this same wc!
I distinctly, remember the commies being awestruck at paks opening pairs batting and saying pak only need a 100 runs from 25 overs at just over 4 runs an over.
Then aamir got into a needless verbal with venkedesh and ended up getting out to him.
Thats how i remember the match, maybe my memory is playing tricks with me, but i am pretty certain thats how it was.

 

[Sarwar89]

From my memory it was 180 in 25 overs!
Anwar and aamir were brutalising the indian bowling attack with big hits and team india were rattled. This is before teams went big in the first 15 overs. SL also started this trend in this same wc!
I distinctly, remember the commies being awestruck at paks opening pairs batting and saying pak only need a 100 runs from 25 overs at just over 4 runs an over.
Then aamir got into a needless verbal with venkedesh and ended up getting out to him.
Thats how i remember the match, maybe my memory is playing tricks with me, but i am pretty certain thats how it was.

You are 100% incorrect. May be you were kid at that time.

 

[Revolution]

I remember my 1996 world Cup experience in Bangalore. My father took me to Chinnaswamy stadium. Ufff electrifying crowd and roaring.
People were chanting india.. Then it was Prasad name chanting... Superb experience totally.
After the win, my father took me in his bike for roaming. I was holding Indian flag..
MG road and Brigade road was jam packed.

 

[MMHS]

From my memory it was 180 in 25 overs!
Anwar and aamir were brutalising the indian bowling attack with big hits and team india were rattled. This is before teams went big in the first 15 overs. SL also started this trend in this same wc!
I distinctly, remember the commies being awestruck at paks opening pairs batting and saying pak only need a 100 runs from 25 overs at just over 4 runs an over.
Then aamir got into a needless verbal with venkedesh and ended up getting out to him.
Thats how i remember the match, maybe my memory is playing tricks with me, but i am pretty certain thats how it was.

No, Amir was out at 15'1 overs, when the total was 113 ...., Inzi was out at 132/4, on 22nd over. After that, useless buzurg Javed & out of form Malik consumed too many balls to take the asking ~8 by 40th over, which was impossible those days, that too with 6 down.

 

[Markhor]

1996 is the biggest regret. Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail put on one of the best opening stands I've ever seen from Pakistan. We were 84-1 after 10 and 113-2 after 15 overs. For god's sake, we don't go at that pace now even in T20s !

The chase was perfectly set up only for Anwar and Sohail to play stupid shots and the middle order failing to contribute. Javed, Malik and Rashid tried knocking it about but it was too much, especially for an over the hill Javed.

Pakistan were prime favourites to defend the World Cup, that too in Asian conditions, and we had a better team than India who were at a low point in the 90s. To only reach the QFs was a bitter blow.

 

[Braveheart]

1996 turning point - captain wasim akram did not play due to injury apparently just before start of play!
I remember the score being 180 after 25 overs and pak requiring just 107 in the last 25 overs at a run rate of just over 4. But instead of playing sensibly amir and anwar continued playing big shots. Yes aamir got out due to his needless agression with venkedesh, but come on, the other 8 batsman could not score 107 from 25 overs at 4 runs an over.

Massive 'fixing' cloud over this game as highlighted in the Qayum Report.
Basically, pakistan have bottled it against India in WC games.

 

[Captain caveman]

No, Amir was out at 15'1 overs, when the total was 113 ...., Inzi was out at 132/4, on 22nd over. After that, useless buzurg Javed & out of form Malik consumed too many balls to take the asking ~8 by 40th over, which was impossible those days, that too with 6 down.

By bad!
My memory playing tricks with me(it was 23 years ago)!
So it was 80 after 10 overs requiring 207 in 40 overs at just over 5 runs an over.
To be honest with you, i was traumatised after that defeat. I saw us lose in 92, bit we went on to win the wc! In 96, the team was even better , in my opinion than 92 and again in my opinion, the best pak odi team i have ever seen! Not only to lose to india in the quater finals but to also be eliminated from the competition was quite shocking, especially as i was certain we would win the wc.
Again, apologises!

 

[Captain caveman]

You are 100% incorrect. May be you were kid at that time.

I was in my late teens, just traumatised by that defeat! I guess my memory got corrupted due to the saddness of that defeat. This was the biggest defeat in cricket for untio mohali 2011 wc semi. I cant even remember the score of that match! (lol!)

 

[MMHS]

By bad!
My memory playing tricks with me(it was 23 years ago)!
So it was 80 after 10 overs requiring 207 in 40 overs at just over 5 runs an over.
To be honest with you, i was traumatised after that defeat. I saw us lose in 92, bit we went on to win the wc! In 96, the team was even better , in my opinion than 92 and again in my opinion, the best pak odi team i have ever seen! Not only to lose to india in the quater finals but to also be eliminated from the competition was quite shocking, especially as i was certain we would win the wc.
Again, apologises!

It was 205 of 39 overs (PAK was docked 1 over for slow over rate) with 10 wickets at hand, two set openers murdering depleted Indian attack, a hopeless captain with 35K crowd waiting to suck his blood and 20 overs to make up under heavy dew, on world's fastest out field and in a ground one of the smallest in world outside NZ ..... still PAK was dumb enough to manage bolting that chase.

Compared to that, tomorrow, almost minnows are taking on one of world's top 2 teams............... that's bitter reality.

 

[Ahmed216]

Out of 6 pak batted first only once.
Whatever slight chance pak have of winning tomorrow is only if they bat first

 

[Markhor]

Looking at our 1996 squad on paper, that's the strongest XI we had at any time in the 1990s.

Saeed Anwar
Aamer Sohail
Ijaz Ahmed
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Saleem Malik
Javed Miandad
Rashid Latif
Wasim Akram (but injured for QF)
Mushtaq Ahmed
Waqar Younis
Aqib Javed

Unlike 1999 when we carried two over the hill seniors in Malik and Ijaz, and a passenger in Wasti, nearly everyone was in their prime. The batting was much stronger. The only weak link was an over the hill Javed Miandad but he was our greatest ever batsman.

Note no Shadab/Faheem type pseudo allrounders. We picked specialists, and Wasim Akram was good enough in both departments. Sohail and Malik were handy part timers too.

 

[jaisan]

Whenever 2003 wc match was discussed there is always a mention that razzaq dropped a catch. Did his hand ever touch the ball? I don't think so. He was standing closer than traditional mid off. The batsman saw the opportunity and hit one over his head.

 

[Sarwar89]

I was in my late teens, just traumatised by that defeat! I guess my memory got corrupted due to the saddness of that defeat. This was the biggest defeat in cricket for untio mohali 2011 wc semi. I cant even remember the score of that match! (lol!)

well tomorrow history can be changed, sport always gives you 2nd chance or even 3rd chance

 

[Captain caveman]

Looking at our 1996 squad on paper, that's the strongest XI we had at any time in the 1990s.

Saeed Anwar
Aamer Sohail
Ijaz Ahmed
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Saleem Malik
Javed Miandad
Rashid Latif
Wasim Akram (but injured for QF)
Mushtaq Ahmed
Waqar Younis
Aqib Javed

Unlike 1999 when we carried two over the hill seniors in Malik and Ijaz, and a passenger in Wasti, nearly everyone was in their prime. The batting was much stronger. The only weak link was an over the hill Javed Miandad but he was our greatest ever batsman.

Note no Shadab/Faheem type pseudo allrounders. We picked specialists, and Wasim Akram was good enough in both departments. Sohail and Malik were handy part timers too.

This is the greatest pak odi team i have ever seen in over 30 years of watching pak cricket!
However, miandad was not just past it, but way, way past it.
And saleem malik was a wonderful test batsman but a dreadful odi player. In 92 WC he was easily our worst player!
Something about the name malik!
Also, don't know how genuine he was, got into some trouble a few years later!!!

 

[Captain caveman]

well tomorrow history can be changed, sport always gives you 2nd chance or even 3rd chance

InshaAllah!

 

[Virat_Kohli_fan]

Everyone has seen what happened on the field, so talking about the mental aspect of the game (for the three I have seen) -

1. 2003 - Pakistan's total was defendable , but the first 5 overs of the India innings settled the game, any jitters on the Indian side were gone and they played with confidence, Pakistan did not throw in the towel but the Indians were overwhelmingly confident after the start.

2. 2011 - Pakistan never believed that could win that match while India never believed they could lose it, that's why Sehwag started the way he did and Pakistan dropped all those catches the way they did.

3. 2015 - I actually thought that Pakistan were the more confident side coming into the game, India had had a disastrous tri-series right before the world cup and were on a low, but the Pakistani team was poor and the skill gap showed.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I like your description of the 2015 encounter just 2 lines. That team was truly embarrassing