India vs Pakistan Cricket: Head-to-Head Stats & Records

Few rivalries in cricket generate as much electricity as India vs Pakistan. The numbers tell a story of shifting dominance: Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head 88–81 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database)), but India has won 8 of 9 T20 World Cup meetings (ESPN (sports broadcaster)). This page breaks down the key stats, records, and latest updates.

Total matches played (all formats): 212 · Pakistan wins: 88 · India wins: 81 · India lead in T20 World Cup head-to-head: 8–1 · Largest ODI win margin (by runs): India by 228 runs (Kolkata, 2008) · Pakistan highest individual score in ODIs: 194* (Saeed Anwar, 1997)

Six key facts define the rivalry’s statistical backbone:

The pattern: These numbers reveal a rivalry where overall volume favors Pakistan, but tournament intensity tilts toward India.

Who won more, India or Pakistan?

• Pakistan leads 88–81 overall across all formats after 212 matches (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database)).
• In ICC tournaments, India holds a stronger knockout record. At T20 World Cups, India leads 8–1 (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).
• The 43 drawn/no-result matches reflect the high frequency of rain interruptions and abandoned series.

What this means: While Pakistan holds the historical edge, India’s ICC tournament dominance — especially in T20s — reverses the narrative of overall supremacy.

What is 8-1 IND vs PAK in T20 World Cups?

How did India build this lead?

• India have won 8 of 9 T20 World Cup encounters since 2007 (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).
• Pakistan’s only win came in 2021 — a 10-wicket thrashing in Dubai (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).
• India’s biggest T20 World Cup win against Pakistan was 61 runs in Colombo (2012) (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).
• India has six consecutive T20I wins overall against Pakistan (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).

The pattern: India’s consistency in ICC events — they’ve won 16 straight limited-overs tournament matches since the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss — creates a psychological stranglehold that Pakistan has not broken since 2021.

Which is the biggest ODI win in India-Pakistan matches?

• Biggest by runs: India beat Pakistan by 228 runs in Kolkata (2008) — the largest margin in the rivalry (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).
• Second largest: Pakistan beat India by 225 runs in Rawalpindi (2004) (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).
• Both matches were one-sided — each team’s biggest ODI margin came on home turf.

The takeaway: Home advantage in ODIs amplifies the batting conditions; the winner on each occasion posted totals above 300 and bowled the opponent out cheaply.

Is Pakistan out of the World Cup 2026?

How can Pakistan still qualify?

• Pakistan failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals after losing to India and failing to secure enough net run rate (Olympics.com (sports news agency)).
• To progress, Pakistan needed to beat Ireland and hope other group results fell their way — which did not happen (YouTube (fan analysis channel)).
• India advanced as group toppers with a perfect record (ICC (governing body of cricket)).

The implication: For Pakistan, the early exit in 2026 — the second T20 World Cup in a row without a semi-final appearance — signals a deeper need for structural batting consistency under pressure.

Did Harmanpreet Kaur shake hands after the match?

What happened during the handshake incident?

• On March 15, 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands with Pakistan players after a women’s match, sparking press reports of “handshake drama” (Times of India (leading newspaper)).
• Media described the Indian captain as having “ignored” the Pakistan team during the post-match ritual (Hindustan Times (national daily)).
• The exact reason has not been officially confirmed by either team management.

The uncertainty: While on-field tensions in India-Pakistan matches are common, the handshake snub — whether intentional or misinterpreted — underscores the high emotional stakes every time these teams meet.

What is the salary of a Pakistani cricketer?

How are central contracts structured?

• PCB’s central contract categories (A, B, C, D) carry retainers: Category A earns ~PKR 45 lakh per month; B ~PKR 30 lakh; C ~PKR 18 lakh; D ~PKR 12 lakh (Cricbites (cricket news portal)).
• Match fees: Tests ~PKR 6 lakh; ODIs ~PKR 3.5 lakh; T20Is ~PKR 2.5 lakh per match (Dawn (Pakistani English newspaper)).
• White-ball specialists earn additional bonuses for wins in ICC events (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).

The implication: Pakistani cricketers earn significantly less than Indian counterparts — India’s top-contract retainer is roughly ₹7 crore (~PKR 24 crore annually). The PCB’s tiered structure aims to reward performance but lags in international comparison.

Who removed Virat Kohli from captaincy?

What did BCCI president Sourav Ganguly say?

• Virat Kohli was removed as ODI captain by the BCCI in December 2021 after a communication between the board and Kohli (BBC Sport (public service broadcaster)).
• BCCI president Sourav Ganguly stated, “We had a chat with him and he was told that the selectors and the BCCI feel it’s best to have one captain” (BBC Sport (public service broadcaster)).
• Kohli had earlier stepped down from T20 captaincy in September 2021, but the board decided to remove him from ODI captaincy as well (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).

The implication: Kohli’s removal sparked fierce debate about board-player authority in Indian cricket. For many fans, the decision was about sending a message that no player is bigger than the team — but for Kohli supporters, it marked a needlessly punitive end to his captaincy tenure.

For Indian fans, the rivalry’s modern tilt in ICC events is a clear edge; for Pakistan supporters, the path forward lies in addressing knockout-stage consistency — or risk losing the narrative entirely. The choice for the PCB: invest in mental conditioning and pressure scenarios, or accept that India’s tournament stranglehold will continue.