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Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has recently opened up about his favorite team to play against during his illustrious cricket career.
Dinesh Karthik on rivalry with Pakistan
Karthik shared a deep sense of nostalgia and excitement when recalling his experiences playing against Pakistan. Reflecting on the significance of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, the veteran cricketer, who announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2024, expressed how much he enjoyed the intense rivalry that comes with facing Pakistan on the field.
“My favorite team to play against is Pakistan because there was so much fan following, and the rivalry was always intense. It was always a lot of fun playing a game against Pakistan, and when you do well against them, it’s even better,” Karthik was quoted as saying by the Cricket Pakistan.
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A historic rivalry: India vs Pakistan
The rivalry between India and Pakistan is one of the most iconic in the world of cricket. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the two teams have clashed 135 times, with India securing 57 victories and Pakistan winning 73 matches, while five matches ended without a result. The rivalry is equally fierce in Test cricket, where India and Pakistan have faced each other in 59 matches. India has won 9 of those encounters, while Pakistan has emerged victorious 12 times, with the remaining 38 matches ending in a draw.
In Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), India and Pakistan have faced off 13 times, with India dominating the record by winning 10 matches, while Pakistan has claimed 3 victories. The rivalry extends to major tournaments as well, with India holding a 6-1 lead in T20 World Cup encounters. In ICC ODI World Cup tournaments, the record is even more one-sided, with India winning all 8 encounters against Pakistan.
Karthik’s last game against Pakistan
Karthik’s last appearance against Pakistan came in the T20 World Cup 2022, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. In a thrilling encounter, India defeated their arch-rivals by four wickets, marking their first win of the tournament. Karthik, who has always relished playing against Pakistan, made significant contributions in his career in these high-stakes matches.
Throughout his international career, Karthik represented India in six Tests, three T20Is, and four ODIs against Pakistan, scoring a total of 339 runs. His experience and performance in these intense matches have left a lasting legacy, particularly in the context of one of cricket’s most celebrated rivalries.
