New Delhi: Arch rivals India and Pakistan are once again set to lock horns in the cricketing arena with a bilateral series tentatively starting from December 15 in the neutral venue of Sri Lanka. BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla made the announcement today after both the Indian and Pakistani governments gave the green signal to hold the series in Sri Lanka.
The craze for India-Pakistan matches among the natives of both countries cannot be compared to any other cricket encounter. Amidst an ugly political relationship between India and Pakistan, cricket fans were deprived of this madness for a long time. Now, this news of India-Pakistan matches in December has created massive excitement among cricket fans.
Before the cricket series kicks off, let's take a look at some interesting facts that give Team India a winning edge and put it in the driver's seat.
1. India have won their most recent ODI against Pakistan in their 2015 World Cup match in Adelaide in February. A Virat Kohli ton helped India triumph by a convincing 76 runs.
2. India have famously beaten Pakistan in every single World Cup clash. The win in Adelaide was India's sixth consecutive World Cup victory over Pakistan.
3. India have also won the last ODI between the two teams in Sri Lanka. That came during the Asia Cup in 2010 in Dambulla when India won an exciting game by three wickets with one ball to spare.
India-Pakistan cricket series to be held in Sri Lanka: Rajiv Shukla
4. In the current decade (2010s), India hold a 6-3 lead over Pakistan in the nine ODIs played between the two countries.
5. India have won their last two T20 Internationals against Pakistan. The last game the two arch-rivals played was in the World T20 in Dhaka in 2014 when India cruised to victory by 7 wickets with an over and a half to spare.
6. In fact, India have beaten Pakistan in all four of their World T20 clashes. One of them was a tie but India won the subsequent bowl out.
7. India have beaten Pakistan in the only T20 International played between them in Sri Lanka. That was in the World T20 in 2012 when Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 78 in 61 balls to guide India to an emphatic eight wicket victory with three overs to spare. In all neutral venues, the score is 4-0 in India's favour.
8. India have a winning record against Pakistan in all T20 Internationals. In six games between the two teams so far, India have won five and lost just one.
