After a long wait, the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan cricket match is just around the corner, and cricket fans are more excited than ever. The defending champions, India, will face their arch-rivals, Pakistan, in a major match of T20 Worldcup 2024 on 9th june
The India vs Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in sports. The passion and emotions are incredibly high among both players and fans whenever these two neighboring countries compete. The drama and tension can escalate to the point of heated arguments and sledging.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 biggest fights in the history of India-Pakistan cricket matches.
5. Kiran More vs Javed Miandad (Benson & Hedges World Cup at Sydney, Mar 4, 1992)
The drama happened during the match between arch-rivals on March 4, 1992, in Sydney, at the Benson and Hedges World Cup. Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad was at the crease and posed the biggest threat to India. To break Miandad’s concentration, Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More kept shouting encouragement to the bowlers almost every ball.
Eventually, Miandad got angry and exchanged some words with More. But More continued his exaggerated antics, making many jumping appeals for Miandad’s dismissal. When Miandad had enough, he stepped out of the crease and did three frog jumps back into it to mimic More’s animated appeals.
4. Harbhajan Singh vs Shoaib Akhtar, 2010 (Asia Cup at Dambulla, Jun 19, 2010)
The incident occurred during the 4th match of the Asia Cup 2010 on June 19th, 2010, at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. The match featured a notable confrontation between Shoaib Akhtar and Harbhajan Singh. Pakistan batted first and set a target of 268 runs for India. In the last two overs, India needed 16 runs to win, with Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh at the crease.
Shoaib Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express, bowled the second-last over. Suresh Raina hit a six off the first ball. Harbhajan attempted a pull shot on the last ball of the over but missed. This led to a heated exchange of words between Akhtar and Harbhajan. After the game resumed, Mohammad Aamir dismissed Raina in the final over, leaving the responsibility on Harbhajan.
With India needing three runs from the last two balls, Harbhajan kept his cool and hit a six over midwicket on the fifth ball, securing a victory for India.
3. Venkatesh Prasad vs Aamir Sohail (ICC World Cup, 2nd quarter-finals at Bengaluru, Mar 9, 1996)
On March 9, 1996, India played against Pakistan in the second quarter-final of the ICC World Cup at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. India scored a huge total of 287 runs, thanks to Navjot Singh Sidhu’s impressive 93 runs.
Pakistan needed to score 288 runs to win. During their innings, Aamer Sohail hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and then taunted Prasad to retrieve the ball. In response, Prasad bowled Sohail out on the very next ball and signaled him to leave the field.
2. Gautam Gambhir vs Shahid Afridi (3rd ODI, Pakistan tour of India at Kanpur, Nov 11, 2007)
It was one of the biggest clashes in cricket history during an India-Pakistan match. This happened during the 3rd ODI of Pakistan’s tour of India in Kanpur on November 11, 2007.
Afridi was bowling to Gambhir. Gambhir hit a four and then exchanged some words with Afridi. On the next ball, Gambhir hit it down the ground and ran into Afridi while going for a single.
This collision led to a heated argument, and the game only continued after the on-field umpires stepped in.
1. Gautam Gambhir and Kamran Akmal (Match 4, Asia Cup at Dambulla, Jun 19, 2010)
This was the 4th match of the Asia Cup 2010 between India and Pakistan at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan batted first and set a target of 268 runs for India. As India was getting close to winning, Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal kept appealing for catches behind the wicket, insisting that the Indian batsman had hit the ball.
After a while, Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir got angry and confronted Akmal, leading to a heated exchange. The game continued only after Indian captain MS Dhoni and the on-field umpires stepped in to calm everyone down.