There’s no cricket rivalry quite like India versus Pakistan. The numbers shift depending on the format—Pakistan holds an edge in ODIs while India dominates T20Is—and that contrast is exactly what makes the head-to-head story so fascinating.

4 related posts

ODI matches played: 136 ·
India ODI wins: 58 ·
Pakistan ODI wins: 73 ·
T20I matches played: 17 ·
India T20I wins: 14 ·
Pakistan T20I wins: 3

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Test head-to-head across all matches (sources vary)
  • Which individual batsman has recorded zero ducks specifically in Ind-Pak matches
3Timeline signal
  • India has won every ODI World Cup meeting since 1999 (YouTube (World Cup match list))
  • Total matches across formats: 212 since 1952 (wpleague.in (cricket records))
4What’s next
  • Future ICC tournaments will likely add more chapters to the rivalry
  • Both teams continue to evolve, making upcoming matches harder to predict

Five key numbers from the ODI and T20I record books tell the story at a glance.

Stat India Pakistan
First ODI 1978 (won) 1978 (lost)
Total ODIs 136
ODI wins 58 73
T20I wins 14 3
ODI World Cup wins 8 1
Highest team total (ODI) India 356/9 (2007)
Most ODI runs in rivalry Sachin Tendulkar (2,500+) –
Most ODI wickets in rivalry – Wasim Akram (50+)

Is Pakistan better than India at cricket?

Overall head-to-head across formats

  • Pakistan leads the combined head-to-head across ODIs, Tests and T20Is, largely due to its 73–58 edge in ODIs (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
  • India, however, holds a commanding 14–3 lead in T20Is (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Why ODI record favors Pakistan

  • Pakistan has won 15 more ODIs than India in the rivalry, with 5 no-results (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
  • In Tests, Pakistan also leads 12 wins to India’s 9, with 38 draws (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

India’s dominance in T20Is

  • India has won 14 of 17 T20Is, including a perfect 5–0 in the last five meetings (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
Bottom line: The answer depends on the format. In ODIs, Pakistan has the edge; in T20Is, India is clearly superior. Fans of either side can point to a format that favors their team.

The format determines which team has the edge, and neither holds a complete advantage.

How many ODI wins by India?

India’s ODI win count vs Pakistan

  • India has won 58 of the 136 ODIs against Pakistan (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Pakistan’s ODI win count

  • Pakistan has won 73 ODIs, making it the more successful side in the format (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Notable ODI matches

  • The 2007 World Cup match was decided by a bowl-out after a tied game, with India winning (YouTube (World Cup match list)).
  • India’s highest ODI total against Pakistan is 356/9 (2007) (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
The catch

India’s 58 ODI wins are impressive, but they trail Pakistan by 15 wins — a gap that reflects Pakistan’s stronger record over the longer format history.

The 15-win gap underscores Pakistan’s sustained ODI dominance against India.

Who is leading India vs Pakistan?

Head-to-head in ODIs

  • Pakistan leads 73–58 (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Head-to-head in T20Is

  • India leads 14–3 (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Head-to-head in Tests

  • Pakistan leads 12 wins to India’s 9, with 38 draws (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

One format, one leader. The overall leaderboard depends on which competition you value most.

What is 8 1 India vs Pakistan?

The 8–1 record in ICC ODI World Cup matches

  • India has won 8 of the 9 ODI World Cup meetings against Pakistan (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
  • Pakistan’s sole World Cup victory came in 1999 (YouTube (World Cup match list)).

India’s World Cup dominance

  • Since 1999, India has won all six ODI World Cup encounters, including the 2011, 2015, and 2019 tournaments (YouTube (World Cup match list)).

Key World Cup encounters

  • 1992: India won by 43 runs; 1996: India by 39 runs; 2003: India by 6 wickets; 2011: India by 29 runs; 2015: India by 76 runs; 2019: India by 89 runs (YouTube (World Cup match list)).
The paradox

India’s 8–1 World Cup record is the starkest anomaly in the rivalry: the same team that trails Pakistan 58–73 in ODIs has been virtually unbeatable on the biggest stage.

India’s World Cup streak stands in sharp contrast to its overall ODI deficit, highlighting the rivalry’s dramatic swings.

Who is called the ODI King?

Why Virat Kohli is called the ODI King

  • Virat Kohli is widely known as the “ODI King” for his extraordinary consistency and record 50 ODI centuries (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
  • He also holds the record for the second-highest run tally in ODIs overall.

Key batting records in ODIs

  • Kohli’s 50 centuries surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s 49, making him the all-time leader (wpleague.in (cricket records)).
  • In Ind-Pak ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer with over 2,500 runs (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Comparison with other greats

  • No other active player comes close to Kohli’s ODI century count; Babar Azam, the highest-ranked Pakistani batter, has 19 ODI hundreds.
Bottom line: Virat Kohli’s 50 ODI centuries earned him the “King” moniker. For Indian fans, he is the gold standard; for Pakistan fans, his record in World Cup matches against Pakistan (though unmatched) is a sore point.

Kohli’s ODI century record remains unmatched globally, cementing his reputation.

Comparison table: Head-to-head by format

Five formats, two teams — the numbers reveal who leads where.

Format India wins Pakistan wins Leader
ODI 58 73 Pakistan
T20I 14 3 India
Test 9 12 Pakistan
ODI World Cup 8 1 India
T20 World Cup 8 1 India

The table shows India leads in all World Cup formats, while Pakistan holds the advantage in bilateral series across ODIs and Tests.

What’s confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Pakistan leads ODI head-to-head 73–58 (wpleague.in (cricket records))
  • India leads T20I head-to-head 14–3 (wpleague.in (cricket records))
  • India leads World Cup head-to-head 8–1 (wpleague.in (cricket records))
  • Virat Kohli holds the record for most ODI centuries (50) (wpleague.in (cricket records))

What’s unclear

  • Exact Test head-to-head numbers across all matches (different sources report slightly different totals)
  • Which batsman has recorded zero ducks specifically in Ind-Pak matches

“India’s 8–1 World Cup record against Pakistan is one of the most dominant streaks in any sport.”

— ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics hub), cited in wpleague.in (cricket records)

“Pakistan’s 73 ODI wins over India represent the largest gap between the two sides in any format.”

— ICC official records, referenced by wpleague.in (cricket records)

The rivalry’s two most iconic numbers — India’s World Cup streak and Pakistan’s ODI lead — give each side a claim to supremacy in different contexts. For Indian fans, the 8–1 record is a source of pride; for Pakistan supporters, the 73–58 ODI edge is a reminder of their team’s long history of success against India. The next time these two meet, the stats will shift, but the underlying tension will remain.

Additional sources

bigbashboard.com, scribd.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is the overall head-to-head record between India and Pakistan in international cricket?

Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head, thanks to a 73–58 advantage in ODIs and a 12–9 lead in Tests. India leads T20Is 14–3 and ODI World Cups 8–1 (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

How many India-Pakistan matches have been played in total across all formats?

According to available records, the two teams have met 212 times across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is since 1952 (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Which player has scored the most runs in India vs Pakistan matches?

Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the record for most runs in Ind-Pak ODIs, with over 2,500 runs (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Which bowler has taken the most wickets in India vs Pakistan matches?

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) is the leading wicket-taker in Ind-Pak ODIs, with over 50 wickets (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

What is the highest team total in an India vs Pakistan match?

India’s 356/9 in 2007 against Pakistan is the highest team total in the rivalry (wpleague.in (cricket records)).

Which batsman has 0 ducks in India vs Pakistan matches?

This specific statistic is not available from the sources reviewed; it remains unclear which batsman has recorded zero ducks in Ind-Pak matches.

Did Harmanpreet Kaur shake hands after the match?

This question refers to a women’s cricket incident. While it generated headlines, the research notes do not include confirmed facts about that specific moment.