Another India-Pakistan clash ended in a one-sided result. Team India has already beaten Pakistan twice in this Asia Cup, continuing a trend seen in many recent encounters between the two teams.
India vs Pakistan matches have long drawn attention due to the rivalry between the neighbouring nations. Earlier, Pakistan was a strong cricketing side, making these fixtures exciting and highly competitive.
There was a time when Pakistan held the upper hand. Later, both sides were evenly matched. But today, most contests end with India dominating, leaving little to call it a true rivalry.
Before the Asia Cup began, some demanded that BCCI boycott the match following the Pahalgam terror attack. However, the Board went ahead due to contractual obligations with the tournament organisers.
Leaving politics aside, it’s probably time for the media to tone down the hype. These matches rarely deliver the thrill expected. Even if Pakistan wins, it feels more like an upset than a balanced rivalry.
In the last 10 years, the two nations haven’t played any bilateral series due to political tensions. They have only faced each other in ICC events and Asia Cups during this period.
In One-Day Internationals, they’ve played 18 times over the last decade. India won 12 of those, Pakistan just five, and one ended without a result.
The T20 International record is even more one-sided. India has won all seven matches played in the last ten years. That’s total dominance.
In total, out of 25 matches in the last decade, India has won 19, while Pakistan managed just five. Their last win came in 2022.
After India’s latest win in the 2025 Asia Cup, Suryakumar Yadav remarked, “If teams play 15–20 games and it’s 7–7 or 8–7, that’s a rivalry. 10–0? I don’t know what the stat is, but this is not a rivalry anymore.”
He had a point. During their peak years, Pakistan had a strong bowling unit and a powerful batting line-up. But over time, their performance has dropped, and India has taken full control.
Even advertisers and sponsors are noticing the dip in excitement, as TV ratings continue to fall. For fans, these matches now feel like any other, or sometimes even less. Perhaps it’s time the media recognises this and stops overhyping these games.
