Hafiz Mudassir Rizwan

Cricket fans worldwide are no strangers to the spectacle that is India versus Pakistan. The matches between these two cricketing giants are routinely painted as more than just a sporting event—they are portrayed as a battle for national pride, a showdown between two countries forever bound by history. Netflix’s new documentary The Greatest Rivalry: India v Pakistan opens with vivid imagery of roaring crowds, faces painted in the national colors, and flags waving like battle standards. From the opening moments, it’s clear: this is a rivalry that transcends cricket.

Virender Sehwag, one of India’s greatest batsmen, sets the tone by declaring, “This is a contest bigger than one between the bat and ball.” Pakistani cricket legend Waqar Younis echoes the sentiment, putting the rivalry at the top of the list of global sports contests. Indian spinner R. Ashwin adds that it’s bigger than even the Ashes, while Ramiz Raja, former Pakistan captain, attributes the rivalry’s intensity to “the political garnish.”

For decades, the cricketing contests between India and Pakistan have been marked by not just the players’ abilities on the field but also by the shadow of political conflict, border skirmishes, and historical tensions. These matches have been more than just a game; they represent years of divided history, a region that was once unified and then split apart by the violent partition of 1947. Cricket, in this context, has become a way for both countries to assert their identity, nationalism, and pride.

But with India’s recent crushing defeat of Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy, the question arises: Has this historic rivalry lost its edge? Is it now more of a marketing gimmick, propped up by decades of political animosity and hyperbole?

The numbers tell a story of one-sided dominance. India has now won six of the last eight One-Day International (ODI) encounters against Pakistan, including a resounding 228-run victory in 2023. Pakistan’s last win? The 2017 Champions Trophy final—an increasingly distant memory in what has now become a lopsided rivalry.

The question that now lingers in the minds of fans and pundits alike is: What exactly makes this rivalry so special, and is it still relevant in the modern era of cricket?

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The Decline of Pakistan Cricket and the Changing Dynamics

The last decade has seen a noticeable shift in the fortunes of the two nations. While India has risen as a cricketing superpower—thanks to its robust domestic system, the booming Indian Premier League (IPL), and an ever-expanding talent pool—Pakistan’s cricket has been plagued by challenges. From the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team’s bus, which led to years of international isolation, to internal political instability and administrative issues, Pakistan cricket has been in a steady decline.

The Champions Trophy defeat, where Pakistan failed to put up a competitive fight, only amplified the sense of helplessness. Pakistani journalist Zohaib Ahmed Majeed put it bluntly, writing that “the politicians of these two nations” have kept the rivalry alive, but “the cricketers, especially from our side, are certainly incapable of putting up a show that is worthy of its billing.” Majeed contends that when you remove the historical and political context, you are left with “a professional cricketing unit” (India) versus “a haphazardly put together team” (Pakistan).

The latest match seemed to confirm this perspective. Pakistan’s defeat was not just a loss on the scoreboard but a reminder of how far the team has fallen in terms of competitive stature. In the eyes of many, Pakistan’s performance over the past few years, including poor showings in the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups, has led to a gradual loss of credibility in the rivalry.

Despite Pakistan’s struggles, the rivalry continues to captivate global audiences. In fact, the very notion of India vs. Pakistan has become a commercial juggernaut. The broadcasters and the cricket boards know that this match is a goldmine, capable of drawing in millions of viewers and filling stadiums. The ICC itself has a vested interest in maintaining the rivalry’s hype, understanding that it’s one of the few fixtures that guarantees sell-out crowds and record viewership.

Santosh Desai, a brand consultant, argues that the rivalry now thrives more in imagination than in reality. “The asymmetry between the two sides only fuels the hype,” he says. “India’s dominance makes it an easy narrative to sell, a battle royale where the outcome feels preordained.” The rivalry’s commercial power lies in the fact that India is the dominant side, and the story becomes one of validation for India’s superiority, rather than uncertainty or a true contest.

Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain, dismisses the notion of overhyping, stating that the rivalry is an “exciting contest” for fans, and if people are willing to watch it, then it holds value. The reality is that tickets for India vs. Pakistan matches continue to sell out in minutes, and television ratings soar whenever these two teams meet. More than 600 million viewers tuned in to the Champions Trophy game, breaking viewership records.

But the question remains: Is this just a spectacle fueled by nostalgia and commercial interests? Or is there still a real contest left between two cricketing nations that once battled it out on a level playing field?

While the media and broadcasters do everything in their power to keep the rivalry alive, it’s clear that the India-Pakistan cricket contest has changed over time. It may no longer be the titanic clash it once was, especially when considering the overwhelming odds stacked against Pakistan. As noted by Nadeem Farooq Paracha, Pakistani author and columnist, the rivalry was once genuine because both teams were competitive, but today, the competition has become one-sided, and the media has “hijacked” the narrative for financial gain.

The emotional connection for many fans remains, but the competitive edge has dulled. Pakistan’s failure to consistently compete with India, coupled with its internal cricketing issues, has led many to question the relevance of the rivalry in the current cricketing landscape.

Despite the one-sided nature of recent contests, the India-Pakistan rivalry isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. It remains a powerful cultural and political phenomenon, intertwined with the complex history of the subcontinent. The political tensions and historical narratives that shape the rivalry will continue to fuel the fervor around these matches, even if the cricket on the field fails to live up to the hype.

The future of the rivalry will likely depend on Pakistan’s ability to rebuild its cricketing infrastructure and return to competitiveness. Until then, India will continue to dominate, and the rivalry will remain more of a cultural spectacle than a competitive sporting contest.

For now, the India-Pakistan cricket match remains the ultimate spectacle—a financial windfall for broadcasters, a passion play for fans, and a reminder of a historical divide that still plays out in the form of bat and ball. But whether it is still the premier clash in world cricket or merely a dramatic chapter in a bygone era of competition is a question that may only be answered in the years to come.