India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record: The Numbers Tell Two Different Stories
Ask a cricket fan who has dominated the India-Pakistan rivalry and the answer can depend entirely on the format.
Pakistan leads the overall international win count because of its stronger historical record in Tests and ODIs. But move into T20Is and major recent ICC tournaments, and the picture changes dramatically. As of the end of the 2026 T20 World Cup, India and Pakistan have played 212 men’s international matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, with Pakistan winning 88 and India winning 81; the remaining 43 matches were draws or no-results.
That headline number, however, needs context. The rivalry began with Test cricket in 1952, moved through decades of bilateral series, entered the World Cup era in 1992 and eventually became one of the biggest fixtures in T20 cricket. The most recent meeting came in Colombo on February 15, 2026, when India beat Pakistan by 61 runs after scoring 175/7.
So, who actually has the better record? The answer is more interesting than simply counting victories.
Quick Summary: India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record
- Total international matches: 212
- India wins: 81
- Pakistan wins: 88
- Draws/no-results: 43
- Test matches: 59
- ODIs: 136
- T20Is: 17
- Test record: Pakistan leads 12-9, with 38 draws.
- ODI record: Pakistan leads 73-58, with five no-results.
- T20I record: India leads 14-3.
- ODI World Cup record: India leads 8-0.
- T20 World Cup record after 2026: India leads 7-1, with one tied match decided in India’s favour by a bowl-out.
- Latest meeting: India beat Pakistan by 61 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- Latest T20I: India won 175/7 to 114 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record by Format
The cleanest way to understand the rivalry is to separate the three international formats.
| Format | Matches | India Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draw/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 59 | 9 | 12 | 38 draws |
| ODIs | 136 | 58 | 73 | 5 no-results |
| T20Is | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 212 | 81 | 88 | 43 |
Pakistan therefore has the overall advantage, 88 wins to India’s 81, but India has the much stronger record in T20Is. The Test and ODI numbers are heavily influenced by the period when the two countries played regular bilateral cricket, particularly from the 1970s through the 2000s.
That distinction matters. A single combined number can make the rivalry look closer or more one-sided than it really is depending on which era and format you are examining.
India vs Pakistan Test Record
Test cricket is where the rivalry began.
The first Test between India and Pakistan took place in Delhi in October 1952, with India winning by an innings and 70 runs. Pakistan’s first Test tour of India marked the beginning of a cricketing relationship that would eventually span 59 Test matches.
Test head-to-head
| Test statistic | India | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 59 | 59 |
| Wins | 9 | 12 |
| Losses | 12 | 9 |
| Draws | 38 | 38 |
| Highest team score | 675 | 699 |
Pakistan leads the Test head-to-head 12-9, while an unusually large 38 matches ended in draws.
That high number of draws reflects a very different era of cricket. Many India-Pakistan Tests were played when batting time, defensive technique and long spells of attritional bowling could dominate the result.
The early years
India and Pakistan played several Test series during the 1950s and 1960s before political events repeatedly interrupted bilateral cricket.
The first series in 1952–53 was won by India, while the 1954–55 series in Pakistan ended without a decisive winner. The rivalry was competitive, but it was still primarily a traditional Test contest.
That changed as the teams developed stronger fast-bowling and batting attacks.
Pakistan’s emergence of world-class fast bowlers, combined with India’s technically gifted batting, produced increasingly intriguing contests.
The 1978–2007 era
After a lengthy interruption, bilateral Test cricket resumed in 1978–79. The teams subsequently played several series across India and Pakistan, including memorable contests during the 1980s and 1990s.
Pakistan’s Test success during parts of this period helped create its current statistical advantage.
India eventually produced a landmark away series win in Pakistan in 2003–04, winning the three-Test series 2-1. Pakistan later won a series in India in 2005–06, while the final bilateral Test series between the sides, in 2007–08, was won by India 1-0 with two draws.
Since then, there have been no further India-Pakistan men’s Test matches.
That makes the Test head-to-head a historical record rather than a statistic that is likely to change in the near future unless bilateral Test cricket resumes.
India vs Pakistan ODI Record
The ODI rivalry tells a very different story from Tests.
India and Pakistan have played 136 ODIs, with Pakistan winning 73 and India winning 58. Five matches ended without a result.
| ODI statistic | India | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 136 | 136 |
| Wins | 58 | 73 |
| Losses | 73 | 58 |
| No Result | 5 | 5 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
Pakistan’s 73-58 advantage is the largest format-specific lead either team holds in the overall rivalry.
But there is a fascinating contradiction.
Pakistan leads the overall ODI record, yet India has dominated the two most famous ODI stages where the teams repeatedly meet: the 50-over World Cup and, more recently, major ICC tournament encounters.
India vs Pakistan World Cup record
India’s ODI World Cup record against Pakistan is extraordinary.
The teams first met in the 1992 World Cup, and India won. They met again in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019, with India winning every one of those matches as well.
That means India entered the later stages of the rivalry with an 8-0 ODI World Cup record against Pakistan.
The sequence includes several matches that have become part of cricket history.
1992: The beginning of the World Cup pattern
The 1992 World Cup in Sydney was the first time India and Pakistan faced one another in cricket’s biggest 50-over tournament.
India won the encounter, giving the rivalry its first World Cup chapter.
Pakistan would go on to win that World Cup, but the India match remained one of the few group-stage fixtures where the eventual champions came up short.
2003: Tendulkar’s Centurion classic
The 2003 World Cup meeting is remembered largely because of Sachin Tendulkar.
Pakistan posted a challenging target, but India’s chase was led by Tendulkar’s extraordinary 98.
The famous upper-cut six against Shoaib Akhtar became one of the defining images of India-Pakistan World Cup cricket.
India won the match and extended its World Cup record against Pakistan.
2011: Mohali semi-final
The 2011 World Cup semi-final was perhaps the most pressure-filled ODI meeting between the teams.
India and Pakistan met in Mohali with a place in the final at stake.
India scored 260/9, with Tendulkar making 85. Pakistan’s chase never quite reached the required level, and India won by 29 runs.
India then defeated Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai to become world champions.
2017: Pakistan turns the tables
The Champions Trophy final at The Oval provided one of the biggest reversals in the rivalry.
Pakistan scored 338/4, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s 114.
India were dismissed for only 158, and Pakistan won by 180 runs.
Mohammad Amir’s early wickets, including Virat Kohli, helped Pakistan seize control. The result remains one of Pakistan’s most emphatic victories over India in an ICC final.
2023: Ahmedabad
India and Pakistan met again at the 2023 ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan were dismissed for 191 before India chased the target in 30.3 overs, winning by seven wickets.
The match continued India’s remarkable World Cup record against Pakistan.
2025: Champions Trophy
The rivalry returned in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India and Pakistan meeting in Dubai.
India won by six wickets, chasing Pakistan’s 241 with 44 balls to spare. The result was another reminder that the modern ICC-tournament version of the rivalry has increasingly favoured India.
India vs Pakistan T20I Record
If there is one format where India clearly owns the head-to-head advantage, it is T20I cricket.
The teams have played 17 T20Is, with India winning 14 and Pakistan winning 3. There have been no draws or no-results in the overall T20I record currently listed through the 2026 meeting.
| T20I statistic | India | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 17 | 17 |
| Wins | 14 | 3 |
| Losses | 3 | 14 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
This is a dramatic contrast to the ODI and Test records.
India’s dominance became particularly visible after the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
The 2007 beginning
India and Pakistan played twice during the inaugural T20 World Cup.
Their group match in Durban ended in a tie. Under the rules used at the time, the match went to a bowl-out, which India won 3-0.
The teams met again in the final in Johannesburg.
India posted 157/5, with Gautam Gambhir making 75 and Rohit Sharma contributing an unbeaten 30.
Pakistan’s chase came down to the final over. Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed attempting a scoop off Joginder Sharma, allowing India to win by five runs and become the inaugural T20 World Cup champions.
Few rivalries could ask for a better introduction to a new format.
2012 and 2014
India continued its T20 World Cup dominance against Pakistan.
In 2012, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 78 helped India chase Pakistan’s 128 with eight wickets remaining.
In 2014, India again won, this time by seven wickets after restricting Pakistan to 130/7.
The ICC’s retrospective on the rivalry highlights both matches as important chapters in India’s T20 World Cup success against Pakistan.
2016: Kohli’s chase
The 2016 meeting in Kolkata became another Virat Kohli showcase.
Pakistan managed only 118, and India chased the target with six wickets in hand.
Kohli’s ability to control a difficult chase became a recurring theme in India-Pakistan matches.
2021: Pakistan finally breaks through
The streak eventually ended.
At the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan completed the chase without losing a wicket.
It was Pakistan’s first World Cup victory over India in either the ODI or T20 World Cup. The ICC noted that Pakistan’s win finally broke India’s long unbeaten World Cup run against its neighbour.
For Pakistan, it was a historic night.
For India, it was a reminder that past records mean very little once the players walk onto the field.
2022: The Melbourne classic
One year later, India responded with one of the most memorable victories in T20 World Cup history.
Pakistan scored 159/8 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India fell to 31/4 and looked to be in serious trouble.
Virat Kohli then produced an unbeaten 82 from 53 balls.
The chase went down to the final delivery, with India completing a four-wicket win.
The ICC later highlighted Kohli’s Melbourne performance among the defining India-Pakistan T20 World Cup moments.
2024: India defends 119
The 2024 T20 World Cup meeting in New York was almost the opposite of Melbourne.
India scored only 119.
On a challenging Nassau County pitch, Pakistan appeared to have the advantage during the chase. Yet India’s bowlers dragged the game back and dismissed Pakistan’s hopes.
India won by six runs.
At the time, it was India’s seventh victory in eight T20 World Cup meetings with Pakistan, including the 2007 tied match that India won through a bowl-out.
2025: Three more T20I meetings
The 2025 calendar added three India-Pakistan T20Is through the Asia Cup.
India won the group-stage meeting on September 14 by seven wickets, the Super Four encounter on September 21 by six wickets and the final on September 28 by five wickets.
Those results significantly strengthened India’s overall T20I advantage.
2026: India wins again
The latest T20I meeting took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15, 2026.
India scored 175/7, with Ishan Kishan making a rapid 77 from 40 balls.
Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, giving India a 61-run victory.
Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah struck early, while India’s spin attack maintained pressure through the middle and later overs.
That result moved the overall T20I head-to-head to 14-3 in India’s favour.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Head-to-Head Record
The T20 World Cup record deserves its own section because it is even more striking than the overall T20I numbers.
Following the 2026 meeting, India and Pakistan have played nine T20 World Cup matches.
| T20 World Cup | Result |
|---|---|
| 2007 Group Match | Match tied; India won bowl-out |
| 2007 Final | India won by 5 runs |
| 2012 | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2014 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2016 | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2021 | Pakistan won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2024 | India won by 6 runs |
| 2026 | India won by 61 runs |
The resulting record is India 7 wins, Pakistan 1 win and one tied match, with the tie officially resolved in India’s favour through the bowl-out.
The ICC had recorded seven meetings through 2024, with India winning six and Pakistan one; the 2026 match subsequently became the ninth meeting.
That is an extraordinary tournament record considering how closely matched the teams can look in other formats.
Why Does Pakistan Lead Overall Despite India’s Recent Dominance?
This is perhaps the most interesting question in the India vs Pakistan head-to-head record.
The answer is historical weighting.
Pakistan’s 88 overall wins were built largely during the decades when India and Pakistan played frequent bilateral cricket. Test cricket in particular contains 38 draws, while Pakistan’s ODI advantage was accumulated over a much larger number of matches than the T20I era has produced.
The modern rivalry is different.
Bilateral cricket between the senior men’s teams has become extremely limited. The two sides now meet primarily in ICC tournaments and other multinational competitions.
That means the current head-to-head is shaped by a smaller number of extremely high-pressure matches.
And those matches have often favoured India.
India has dominated the ODI World Cup record, has a strong Champions Trophy record in recent encounters, and leads the T20I record 14-3.
So both of these statements can be true at the same time:
Pakistan leads the all-time head-to-head record.
India has been the stronger team in many of the rivalry’s biggest modern tournament encounters.
That is exactly why simply looking at the 88-81 overall number can be misleading.
Most Memorable India vs Pakistan Matches
Certain matches stand out regardless of which side a fan supports.
1986 Austral-Asia Cup Final
Javed Miandad’s last-ball six against India remains one of the most famous finishes in ODI history.
1992 World Cup
India won the first World Cup meeting between the two sides.
2003 World Cup
Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 at Centurion became one of the signature performances of the rivalry.
2007 T20 World Cup Final
India won the inaugural T20 World Cup after a dramatic final-over finish.
2011 World Cup Semi-Final
India defeated Pakistan in Mohali before going on to win the World Cup.
2017 Champions Trophy Final
Pakistan responded with an emphatic 180-run victory at The Oval.
2021 T20 World Cup
Pakistan finally defeated India in a World Cup, winning by 10 wickets.
2022 T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 powered India to a remarkable Melbourne victory.
2024 T20 World Cup
India defended 119 against Pakistan in one of the lowest-scoring modern classics.
2026 T20 World Cup
Ishan Kishan’s 77 helped India reach 175/7 before Pakistan were bowled out for 114. India won by 61 runs.
What Is India’s Best Record Against Pakistan?
India’s strongest statistical advantage comes in T20 cricket.
The 14-3 T20I record is far more decisive than India’s overall 81-88 deficit.
The other major advantage is the ODI World Cup.
India has won all eight ODI World Cup meetings against Pakistan, a record that stretches from 1992 through the 2019 tournament.
India also owns the memorable recent T20 World Cup wins in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
The 2022 victory is particularly notable because India recovered from 31/4 and chased 160 with Kohli’s unbeaten 82.
The 2024 win showed a different quality: defending a modest total under pressure.
The 2026 victory was more comprehensive, with India winning by 61 runs.
Together, those matches show how India’s recent success has come in different ways rather than through one recurring formula.
What Is Pakistan’s Best Record Against India?
Pakistan’s strongest statistical advantage remains in Tests and ODIs.
The Test record stands at 12 Pakistan wins to India’s nine, with 38 draws.
In ODIs, Pakistan leads 73-58, with five no-results.
Pakistan’s biggest modern statement came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, when it defeated India by 180 runs.
The 2021 T20 World Cup victory was another landmark because Pakistan finally defeated India in a World Cup after years of unsuccessful attempts.
These wins are a useful reminder that the rivalry has never been a simple story of one team always having the upper hand.
India vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Record: Key Milestones
| Year | Major event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | First Test | India won |
| 1978 | ODI era begins | India won first ODI |
| 1986 | Austral-Asia Cup final | Pakistan won |
| 1992 | First ODI World Cup meeting | India won |
| 2003 | World Cup, Centurion | India won |
| 2007 | First T20 World Cup meeting | India won bowl-out |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup final | India won |
| 2011 | World Cup semi-final | India won |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy final | Pakistan won |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | Pakistan won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup | India won by 6 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2025 | Asia Cup meetings | India won all three |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | India won by 61 runs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the better India vs Pakistan head-to-head record?
Pakistan leads the overall men’s international record with 88 wins to India’s 81 across 212 Tests, ODIs and T20Is. However, India leads the T20I record 14-3 and has dominated their ODI World Cup meetings.
Who has won more India vs Pakistan Test matches?
Pakistan has won more Test matches, leading India 12-9 after 59 Tests. A further 38 matches ended in draws. The two sides have not played a men’s Test since the 2007–08 series.
Who has won more India vs Pakistan ODIs?
Pakistan leads the ODI head-to-head with 73 victories compared with India’s 58. Five ODIs between the teams have ended without a result.
Who has won more India vs Pakistan T20Is?
India has a clear advantage in T20Is, winning 14 of the 17 matches between the sides. Pakistan has won three. India’s latest T20I victory came against Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Who has won more India vs Pakistan World Cup matches?
In ODI World Cup cricket, India has won all eight meetings against Pakistan. In the T20 World Cup, India leads 7-1 with one tied match that India won through a bowl-out.
Final Takeaway
The India vs Pakistan head-to-head record is a perfect example of why cricket statistics need context.
Pakistan leads the overall tally, 88 wins to India’s 81, largely because of its historical advantage in Tests and ODIs. But India’s recent record in the formats and tournaments that attract the biggest global attention tells a different story.
India leads the T20I rivalry 14-3. It has won all eight ODI World Cup meetings and now holds a 7-1 advantage over Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches, with the one tied encounter decided in India’s favour.
The latest chapter came in Colombo in February 2026. India scored 175/7, Ishan Kishan made 77 from 40 balls, and Pakistan were dismissed for 114. The 61-run win extended India’s T20I dominance and added another entry to a rivalry that has been producing unforgettable cricket since 1952.
The most useful way to read the numbers, then, is not simply to ask “Who has won more?”
Ask instead: Which format, which era and which tournament?
That is where the real India-Pakistan story begins.
