Durban is where it all really ignited. When India faced Pakistan in the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the match felt like the beginning of a new chapter. India played a thrilling draw and then a heartbreaking final in Johannesburg to lift the trophy. At the time, India had led Pakistan 4-0 in the 50-over World Cup, but the dramatic T20 finale suggested India’s rivalry might finally be finding its balance.
Nearly two decades later, that promise has evaporated. Nineteen years later, this pattern remains painfully familiar to Pakistan. Regardless of the format, Team India continues to dominate the World Cup. Sunday’s result marked India’s eighth win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, further extending India’s winning streak and taking the unpredictability out of the tournament.
The war once hailed as the “mother of all wars” has become painfully one-sided. In the 1980s, 1990s and even the early 2000s, the conflict between India and Pakistan was bound to be dramatic and highly tense. Today, expectation is often replaced by resignation. Each game brought new hope to the Pakistani media and former players, but once again India took control.
Pakistan’s only victory over India in the T20 World Cup was in Dubai 2021, a crushing 10-run win. But since then, they have never beaten India in any format or tournament. India’s victories in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024 and 2026 highlight the widening quality gap.
The emotional toll was palpable as former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis reacted live. As Pommie Mbangwa said, “India’s dominance in this game will definitely irritate Pakistan. 11th consecutive win in the men’s ICC T20 World Cup,” Waqar interjected: “Okay! Enough. Stay there. We’ve had enough. I would say, India have been too good in the last 15-20 years.”
Waqar has experienced this narrative firsthand. He was the head coach when Virat Kohli scored a half-century at Eden Gardens in 2016 to lead India home. As a player, he also played for Pakistan in a 50-over defeat to India at the 1996 World Cup in Bangalore and the 2003 Centurion World Cup. Few have witnessed the painful tilt of the rivalry as firsthand as he has.
