Here are the detailed statistics and key highlights of the India vs Pakistan Test matches:
Head-to-Head Record (All-Time)
- Total Matches Played: 59
- Pakistan Wins: 12
- India Wins: 9
- Draws: 38
India and Pakistan have had a competitive rivalry in Test cricket, with many of their encounters ending in draws. The record is tilted in favor of drawn matches, showcasing the evenly matched nature of the two teams over the years.
India vs Pakistan Test Series Highlights
1. First Test Series (1952)
- Date: October 16–19, 1952
- Venue: Delhi (India)
- Result: Draw
- Highlight: The first-ever Test match between India and Pakistan ended in a draw, with both teams beginning their cricketing rivalry.
2. 2004 Pakistan Tour of India
- Result: India won 1-0 in the 3-match Test series.
- Key Moments:
- India won the historic Multan Test by an innings and 52 runs. This was India’s first-ever Test win in Pakistan.
- India dominated Pakistan, with outstanding performances from players like Virender Sehwag, who scored 309 runs in the first Test, becoming the first Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket.
3. 2005 Pakistan Tour of India
- Result: Draw (0-0 in 3-match series)
- Highlight: Both teams competed closely with no winner, although India was dominant in the home series.
4. 2007 Pakistan Tour of India (Last Test Series)
- Result: Draw (1-1 in 3-match series)
- Highlight: The series was contested evenly, and it ended in a draw after three competitive Test matches.
Key Stats and Records
- Highest Individual Score:
- India: Virender Sehwag’s 309 runs in the 2004 Multan Test against Pakistan, which remains India’s highest score in a Test match.
- Pakistan: Hanif Mohammad’s 337 runs in the 1958 Test at Bridgetown (against West Indies), but in matches against India, the highest score has been 208 by Mohammad Yousuf in 2006.
- Highest Team Score:
- India: India’s highest team total against Pakistan is 675/5, achieved in the 2004 Multan Test, where Sehwag’s triple century was pivotal.
- Pakistan: Pakistan’s highest total against India is 599/6 declared, achieved in the 2006 Karachi Test.
- Best Bowling Performance:
- India: Anil Kumble’s match-winning performance with the ball in the 2004 Multan Test, taking 4 wickets for 53 runs.
- Pakistan: Wasim Akram’s brilliant spell in 1999, taking 7 wickets for 119 runs against India in Chennai.
- Most Runs in India-Pakistan Test Matches:
- India: Sunil Gavaskar has scored the most Test runs in India-Pakistan matches, amassing over 1000 runs.
- Pakistan: Javed Miandad is Pakistan’s top run-scorer in this rivalry.
- Most Wickets:
- India: Anil Kumble leads the wickets tally for India in this rivalry with 45 wickets.
- Pakistan: Wasim Akram holds the record for the most wickets against India with 40 wickets.
Key Player Performances
- Virender Sehwag (India): Scored a record-breaking triple century (309) in the 2004 Multan Test, which was India’s first-ever Test win in Pakistan.
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Was instrumental in many of Pakistan’s victories over India, with outstanding bowling performances, including his 7-wicket haul in Chennai in 1999.
- Anil Kumble (India): India’s most successful bowler against Pakistan in Tests, with numerous match-winning performances.
- Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan): Played a crucial role with the bat, scoring over 200 runs in Tests against India.
Key Series Results
- 1999 India Tour of Pakistan: Pakistan won the series 2-1, with notable performances from Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar.
- 2004 India Tour of Pakistan: India won the series 1-0, including the historic win in the Multan Test.
- 2007 India Tour of Pakistan: The series ended in a 1-1 draw.
Recent Encounters
- India vs Pakistan (2007): The last Test series between India and Pakistan took place in 2007. After that, political tensions and diplomatic issues led to a suspension of Test cricket between the two nations.
Conclusion
The India vs Pakistan Test rivalry is filled with historic performances, individual milestones, and competitive series. However, since 2007, the two teams have not faced off in Test cricket, and the future of their encounters in this format depends on the political landscape.