Dubai, Jan 6:
The highly-anticipated match between India and Pakistan will take place in New York on June 9 at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The two teams have clashed seven times previously at the event – twice in 2007 including the Final, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2022. Only in 2009 and 2010 did they not face off in the marquee Men’s T20 tournament.
In the seven encounters, India have emerged victorious six times, which includes victories in the epic bowl-out and the finale in 2007 and most recently, via Virat Kohli’s sensational heist in Melbourne in 2022.
Pakistan’s lone win was a dominant one where they broke India’s winning streak in World Cups – both 50-over and 20-over – with a memorable triumph in the 2021 edition in Dubai, an ICC report said.
The last time the two teams faced off in the T20 World Cup was in October 2022 inside a packed Melbourne Cricket Stadium.
Wounded by their first-ever loss against Pakistan in the World Cup in the previous year, India came out with a point to prove but couldn’t stop Babar Azam’s side from setting a solid target of 160.
In reply, India were 31/4 before Kohli and Hardik Pandya steadied the ship and took the team close to victory. With 28 needed off the final eight balls, Kohli unleashed an almost impossible six straight down the ground and followed it up with another maximum.
Sixteen runs were needed off the last over and after a chaotic few balls, which included the wicket of Hardik Pandya, a six off a no-ball and the stumping of Dinesh Karthik, it came down to one run needed from the final delivery.
Ravichandran Ashwin placed the ball over mid-off, sparking a jubilant yet emotionally charged celebration from the Indian team. Kohli ended up with 82* off 53 balls, an innings that has been rated as one of the best ever in the T20 format.
The clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York will be crucial for both teams, who will be focused on breaking a long drought in ICC tournaments, with India’s last major victory dating back to the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and Pakistan winning the same tournament in 2017.
