Has the India-Pakistan rivalry become overhyped?

[Cricket Warrior]

For decades, India vs Pakistan has been billed as the biggest clash in world cricket, a game where emotions run high, stadiums sell out in minutes, and fans on both sides treat it as more than just a match.

Is the hype still justified, or are we holding onto nostalgia?

With one-sided results, no bilateral series, and rising commercial interests, is this rivalry still the pinnacle of cricketing competition or has it become a marketing product that doesn’t always deliver on the field?

 

[sweep_shot]

Many things in cricket have become abnormal/unnatural and overhyped.

It is due to BCCICC's focus on overcommercialization.

Having 3 IND-PAK games in 1 tournament means interest becomes diluted.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Forget about Rivalry. Pakistan as an individual unit has lost charm. Because they lack superstars, personalities. They look like how Bangladesh players looked when they started playing. Looks like an unit of no-names with no real world class achievement. It is unrecognizable compared to yesteryear pakistan units.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

It’s certainly feels totally one- sided (for now) but for old timers like me, it’s difficult to fully let go.

I’ve followed the cricket for long enough that even Wasim, Inzy, Waqar, Shoaib etc are a recent phenomenon.

I still remember watching live guys like Asif Iqbal, Miandad, Imran, Qadir.

So I remember their glory days, that incredible aura on some of those lads, and while I massively enjoy every beat down we manage to give Pakistan, I have a lot of respect for who they were. Woh bhi kya khiladi they

 

[RexRex]

I am curious to know if these cinema houses will be filled.

As per reports: PVR INOX will show the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final across 100+ screens in India.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I am curious to know if these cinema houses will be filled.

As per reports: PVR INOX will show the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final across 100+ screens in India.

From boycott to public screening...within two weeks...LOL

what a turnaround and hypocrisy reaching new heights... @DeadlyVenom @Mamoon @mominsaigol @Rana wana go to cinema to watch this??

 

[Rana]

From boycott to public screening...within two weeks...LOL

what a turnaround and hypocrisy reaching new heights... @DeadlyVenom @Mamoon @mominsaigol @Rana wana go to cinema to watch this??

They want to watch Mohammad Harris bat for Pakistan instead of Rizwan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

They want to watch Mohammad Harris bat for Pakistan instead of Rizwan.

this shows your obsession... I am out... Thanks

 

[Rana]

this shows your obsession... I am out... Thanks

Bhai ab khamyaaza you bhugtna pare ga aapko

 

[BouncerGuy]

Bhai ab khamyaaza you bhugtna pare ga aapko

LOL... Your obsession it toxic bro... Move on

 

[Rana]

LOL... Your obsession it toxic bro... Move on

My obsession is Toxic?

Didn’t I tell you to stop the obsession with Harris? It will come back to haunt you?

 

[Kianig89]

If only Pakistan can win this final to claim the bragging rights , let's hope FM gives them a pep talk before game

 

[PakPremi]

I still enjoy it throughly beside the results, it's like watching horror movie when you know most, if not all the good guys, will get slaughtered but you hope they can come on top somehow.

 

[PakPremi]

My obsession is Toxic?

Didn’t I tell you to stop the obsession with Harris? It will come back to haunt you?

Most posters so far have been right about Mohd Haris, he is no match for Rizwan, certainly not in keeping and batting performances been insignificant mostly, but I will still give him longer rope to prove himself as he has not had a permanent position in the batting order.

 

[Rana]

Most posters so far have been right about Mohd Haris

No they have not.

Sit down.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

From boycott to public screening...within two weeks...LOL

what a turnaround and hypocrisy reaching new heights... @DeadlyVenom @Mamoon @mominsaigol @Rana wana go to cinema to watch this??

Indians are on another level.

Their whole lives shown be shown in cinema.

But it falls under the comedy genre.

 

[Devadwal]

From boycott to public screening...within two weeks...LOL

what a turnaround and hypocrisy reaching new heights... @DeadlyVenom @Mamoon @mominsaigol @Rana wana go to cinema to watch this??

From packing the beg to play against UAE after surrendered infront of BCCI and ICC.

I clearly remember how Pakistan fans started to celebrated as soon as rumour of Pakistan boycott against UAE spreading over social media.

@Major was already opened a thread about celebration of boycott joined by @DeadlyVenom and rest of Pakistan fans .

But soon PCB Shown the mirror by experts about boycott ,they surrendered and Play the match with same match referee .

 

[BouncerGuy]

From packing the beg to play against UAE after surrendered infront of BCCI and ICC.

I clearly remember how Pakistan fans started to celebrated as soon as rumour of Pakistan boycott against UAE spreading over social media.

@Major was already opened a thread about celebration of boycott joined by @DeadlyVenom and rest of Pakistan fans .

But soon PCB Shown the mirror by experts about boycott ,they surrendered and Play the match with same match referee .

so you're going to which cinema to watch the game because your bhangra of boycott is over?

 

[Devadwal]

so you're going to which cinema to watch the game because your bhangra of boycott is over?

I wanted match to happen as its always pleasure to watch when India humiliate Pakistan .

I usually like to watch cricket alone so that no one can disturb me.

 

[mominsaigol]

From boycott to public screening...within two weeks...LOL

what a turnaround and hypocrisy reaching new heights... @DeadlyVenom @Mamoon @mominsaigol @Rana wana go to cinema to watch this??

The govt have always been wacakadoodles. Not a surprise.

 

[tiger_khan]

Had the rivalry been overhyped the coming game would not have the potential to be most watched game of 2025.

The rivalry is and was always there. Even before Miandad's last ball six when India never let Pak win after their 1983 world cup victory. It was even there after the Miandad's six ,when Pak didn't let India win for more than a decade and a half.
Afterwards, India tactically chose to not play Pak because cricket was married to politics and India wanted to avoid embarrassment

The only reason India is playing the Asia Cup right now is because they have a stronger team currently. If we were a stronger team, this Asia Cup wouldn't be taking place right now.

In summary, regardless of which team is stronger...the rivalry was, is and will always be there because...Pak vs India cricket matches are not only a battle of cricket skills but also a platform to maintain unsettled political scores and emotional grudges.

 

[Falconslions]

It was even there after the Miandad's six ,when Pak didn't let India win for more than a decade and a half. Afterwards, India tactically chose to not play Pak because cricket was married to politics and India wanted to avoid embarrassment

The only reason India is playing the Asia Cup right now is because they have a stronger team currently. If we were a stronger team, this Asia Cup wouldn't be taking place right now.

In summary, regardless of which team is stronger...the rivalry was, is and will always be there because...Pak vs India cricket matches are not only a battle of cricket skills but also a platform to maintain unsettled political scores and emotional grudges.

Agree with most but disagree with the highlighted part. Asia Cup has always happened before. It's been happening since 1984 and this is already the 18th edition in 41 years.

 

[PakPremi]

No they have not.

Sit down.

Did I hit a nerve of poster who is always embarrassing himself.

 

[Rana]

Did I hit a nerve of poster who is always embarrassing himself.

No, you only continued what you people do. Make things up…

Such as “paKisTaaN wiLl noT suRviVe in IntErnAtIonal cRickEt wIthOut baBar anD riZWan”

Just be quiet now. Sit down. Enough of you people’s nonsense!

 

[tiger_khan]

Agree with most but disagree with the highlighted part. Asia Cup has always happened before. It's been happening since 1984 and this is already the 18th edition in 41 years.

That's not complete info. Asia cup was supposed to take place every two years. It was skipped multiple times.

 

[NishanKonar]

Had the rivalry been overhyped the coming game would not have the potential to be most watched game of 2025.

The rivalry is and was always there. Even before Miandad's last ball six when India never let Pak win after their 1983 world cup victory. It was even there after the Miandad's six ,when Pak didn't let India win for more than a decade and a half.
Afterwards, India tactically chose to not play Pak because cricket was married to politics and India wanted to avoid embarrassment

The only reason India is playing the Asia Cup right now is because they have a stronger team currently. If we were a stronger team, this Asia Cup wouldn't be taking place right now.

In summary, regardless of which team is stronger...the rivalry was, is and will always be there because...Pak vs India cricket matches are not only a battle of cricket skills but also a platform to maintain unsettled political scores and emotional grudges.

When did India stop playing Pakisran out of embarrasement ?

If anything India used to play more often in the 90s when they wer losing more often. And then stopped playing when we had better side. We used to play in all sorts of random places in the 90s - Toronto , Sharjah , Singapore. Bilateral series were banned but it was on both sides. Pakistan withdrew from 1990 India tour due to Kashmir issue ( 1 day before 1st test )

 

[PakPremi]

No, you only continued what you people do. Make things up…

Such as “paKisTaaN wiLl noT suRviVe in IntErnAtIonal cRickEt wIthOut baBar anD riZWan”

Just be quiet now. Sit down. Enough of you people’s nonsense!

Never ever said any of that, simply criticised Haris on merit, difference between you and me is you attack players on your own personal agendas, which you admit to, whereas I do so on performance and so far I have seen nothing from Haris to say he has performed better than Rizwan, who himself is not suitable for the modern T20s. Now go and sit at the back if class and come back with better excuse.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Had the rivalry been overhyped the coming game would not have the potential to be most watched game of 2025.

The rivalry is and was always there. Even before Miandad's last ball six when India never let Pak win after their 1983 world cup victory. It was even there after the Miandad's six ,when Pak didn't let India win for more than a decade and a half.
Afterwards, India tactically chose to not play Pak because cricket was married to politics and India wanted to avoid embarrassment

The only reason India is playing the Asia Cup right now is because they have a stronger team currently. If we were a stronger team, this Asia Cup wouldn't be taking place right now.

In summary, regardless of which team is stronger...the rivalry was, is and will always be there because...Pak vs India cricket matches are not only a battle of cricket skills but also a platform to maintain unsettled political scores and emotional grudges.

But strictly talking about Asia cup , Pakistan never has a good record even when they had Miandad and others. This is a bogey tournament for them.

 

[BouncerGuy]

India reached three ICC finals in a row—ODI WC, T20 WC, CT—and still couldn’t generate cinema-level hype. But one Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup? Boom. Big screen treatment. That’s not just cricket, that’s Pakistan’s aura.

 

[Inswing]

If Pakistan doesn't win today, then it will be officially end. Losing 3 games in a row against your archrivals will be pure humiliation.

 

[just a fan]

India reached three ICC finals in a row—ODI WC, T20 WC, CT—and still couldn’t generate cinema-level hype. But one Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup? Boom. Big screen treatment. That’s not just cricket, that’s Pakistan’s aura.

These guys and their bubbles!! Boom

 

[Ball Blazer]

Should be an incredible game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972228506252874103

 

[jnaveen1980]

I just don't feel the hype i felt say 15 years back. It feels contrived and forced. It is going to be the same feeling had BD or SL met India in the final. Except i wouldn't bother much losing to them. That is the only interest. For broadasters sake these commentators hype these matches. They get instructions to hype. It is a staged drama. This Asia cup will have some relevance only if Pak wins. If India wins it will be a tepid affair.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Should be an incredible game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972228506252874103

But but no one in India wants to see India play against Pakistan.

 

[PakPremi]

I just don't feel the hype i felt say 15 years back. It feels contrived and forced. It is going to be the same feeling had BD or SL met India in the final. Except i wouldn't bother much losing to them. That is the only interest. For broadasters sake these commentators hype these matches. They get instructions to hype. It is a staged drama. This Asia cup will have some relevance only if Pak wins. If India wins it will be a tepid affair.

No hype but 100 cinema screen across India and full stadium,.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No hype but 100 cinema screen across India and full stadium,.

That would be the same if INdia had faced Bangladesh lol You think Indians will turn off TV had they faced Srilanka? Purely from a cricketing stand point this rivalry is dead long back.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

That would be the same if INdia had faced Bangladesh lol You think Indians will turn off TV had they faced Srilanka? Purely from a cricketing stand point this rivalry is dead long back.

 

[cricketfan24]

overhyped by the Indians especially their media

 

[MenInG]

But but no one in India wants to see India play against Pakistan.

It's ok, SKY made a good statement now we can go back to normal like nothing happened

 

[jnaveen1980]

It's ok, SKY made a good statement now we can go back to normal like nothing happened

I disagree with the reason of SKY. But agree with point about rivalry being dead. IPL matches sIndia vs zimbabwe had an attendance of 87000 at the MCG in 2022 T20 worldcup. India vs Pakistan had an attendance of 89000. People watch India matches for India not for who they play. Be it is England or Australia or South Africa. They will watch for India. Pakistan cannot steal credit there. Both are heavily populated countries. Obviously there is going to be increased viewership. India has played what 12 matches against pakistan in the last 10 years?

For the record 2021 india vs pakitan world cup had viewership of 165 million. One of the highest
2025 IPL final had 169 million viewers.