Cricket fans never sleep when India and Pakistan lock horns. Every time these two teams hit the field, millions of viewers across the world pause whatever they do and tune in. The rivalry carries as much emotion as competition, and the stats show it. Let me break down India vs Pakistan head-to-head stats honestly, casually, and with the perspective of someone who has watched countless matches with friends shouting at the TV. Spoiler alert: the numbers tell a story that is sometimes surprising, often dominant, and always rich in drama.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, I want you to imagine the sheer hype that builds when these two teams walk out. You know it, I know it this isn’t just a match. It feels like life itself depends on it. That emotional edge is something no statistic really captures, but the numbers below definitely reflect how unforgettable these contests have been.
We will cover every major format Test, ODI, T20I as well as World Cups, Asia Cups, and even youth head-to-head stats. I’ll also share a consolidated table with all the key numbers in one place.
Contents
- 1 The Big Picture: Overall Head-to-Head
- 2 Test Cricket: Classic Battles with Draws Galore
- 3 ODI Cricket: War of Numbers and World Cups
- 4 T20I Cricket: India’s Dominance
- 5 Big Tournament Stats vs Bilateral Stats
- 6 One Rivalry, Many Stages
- 7 Youth Cricket Head-to-Head: Future Stars
- 8 The Culture of the Rivalry
- 9 Head-to-Head Stats Table (All Formats)
- 10 What the Numbers Really Mean
- 11 Personal Take: Stats vs Heart
- 12 Conclusion
The Big Picture: Overall Head-to-Head
When I first looked at the total head-to-head figures between India and Pakistan across formats, the rivalry felt almost even. But the deeper you go, the more layers you uncover.
Here’s the raw summary of all formats combined:
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They have played 211 official international matches in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
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Pakistan leads overall with 88 wins, while India has won 80 matches.
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43 matches ended as draws or no results.
That overall head-to-head makes sense because older formats (like Tests and ODIs) contribute a lot of games where Pakistan historically had an edge. But once you zoom in on specific formats, the balance shifts drastically in places, especially in T20s and World Cup matches.
Test Cricket: Classic Battles with Draws Galore
Let’s start with the longest format the one purists love and social gatherings dread when you must explain a draw.
India vs Pakistan in Test Matches
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Total Tests played: 59
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Pakistan wins: 12
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India wins: 9
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Draws: 38
If I’m honest, this is the most “balanced but boring” part of the rivalry. Pakistan holds a slight edge in wins, but the sheer number of draws reflects two things: slow scoring on dusty pitches, and both teams being cautious rather than flamboyant in Test settings.
In Test cricket, Pakistan leads by three wins. That might seem surprising to some fans who romanticize India’s recent dominance in shorter formats, but the early decades of Test contests included slow over rates and pitches that leaned defensively.
ODI Cricket: War of Numbers and World Cups
One-Day Internationals (ODIs) define this rivalry for most fans. These matches used to happen regularly until political tensions limited bilateral series.
India vs Pakistan in ODIs
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Matches played: 136
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Pakistan wins: 73
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India wins: 58
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No results: 5
Okay, first impression: Pakistan leads here. That looks dominant on paper, but look closer. The balance changes dramatically when you break ODI stats down into categories like World Cups and Asia Cups.
ODI World Cup Head-to-Head
Now this is where things flip.
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World Cup meetings: 8
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India wins: 8
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Pakistan wins: 0
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No ties or no results: 0
Yes, you read that right. Pakistan leads in overall ODIs, but India has NEVER lost to Pakistan in the ODI Cricket World Cup. Every time they have met in a World Cup match, India has come out on top.
IMO (in my opinion), that stat feeds the eternal debate about who performs when it matters most. Pakistan dominated earlier bilateral series and regular ODIs, but India showed up in the biggest tournament of them all.
Asia Cup and Bilateral Context
Speaking of regional tournaments like the Asia Cup, India holds an edge in head-to-head matches there too. India has won more games in Asia Cup history, including a dominant performance in the 2025 Asia Cup where they beat Pakistan and secured the trophy.
If you ask me, that adds another layer to the rivalry. Pakistan might lead in overall ODI wins, but in prestigious events with high stakes, India often shines brighter.
T20I Cricket: India’s Dominance
Alright, if you love short and explosive cricket, T20Is give you exactly that. And India absolutely destroys the stereotype of close rivalry with Pakistan here.
India vs Pakistan in T20Is
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Matches played: 16
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India wins: 13
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Pakistan wins: 3
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Ties/No results: 0
India’s success in T20Is is not even close. They have won more than four out of five matches in this format against Pakistan. Honestly, I didn’t expect that massive gap when I first looked. Some stats nerds might quibble about a neutral venue effect or different team strategies, but the fact is clear: India overwhelms Pakistan in T20 head-to-head stats.
World Cup T20s tell a similar story:
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T20 World Cup head-to-head: India leads 7-1 in wins, excluding ties.
That single Pakistan win is historic in its own right, but it’s basically an outlier in a series where India usually gets the better of their rivals.
Big Tournament Stats vs Bilateral Stats
Let’s pause and think about something really interesting. India wins more in global events while Pakistan maintains an overall edge in regular ODIs. How does that make sense?
Here’s how I think about it.
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Pakistan played more bilateral ODIs in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s when India did not always have full squads or was still building strategies. That added a lot to Pakistan’s win column.
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India started dominating world events from the late 2000s onward, especially in ICC tournaments like World Cups and T20 tournaments.
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Pakistan does have moments of brilliance in global events too (like the famous 2017 Champions Trophy Final), which adds character to the rivalry.
So if you’re judging raw bilateral performance, Pakistan gets the edge. If you’re judging performance on the biggest stage, India wins more often.
One Rivalry, Many Stages
Let’s expand beyond just basic head-to-head to see how these teams match up on different big stages and formats.
Asia Cup
In Asia Cup history, India leads Pakistan’s record in head-to-head matches. These matches often get crazy in intensity because regional pride adds another level of pressure.
The 2025 Asia Cup final is a perfect example. India beat Pakistan to lift the trophy in a dramatic finish that went down to the final overs.
Champions Trophy
In ICC Champions Trophy tournaments, the story goes back and forth.
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Pakistan famously demolished India in the 2017 final by a huge margin.
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Since then, both teams have traded victories in separate Champions Trophy matches, making it nearly balanced in this format.
Those encounters remind us that rivalries are not one-dimensional. They have peaks and valleys, favorites and underdogs, even in formats where one team seems superior overall.
Youth Cricket Head-to-Head: Future Stars
The rivalry does not stop at senior teams. In youth cricket, especially ICC Under-19 World Cups, the two nations also lock horns with intensity.
Recent records show that India U19 holds a slight edge in head-to-head youth matches. As of the 2026 U19 World Cup, India has more victories than Pakistan at that level.
Watching these young players battle makes one wonder how the senior rivalry will evolve in the next decade. Pakistan has a history of producing unpredictable talent, while India’s young core often looks tactically sharp and prepared for intense pressure.
The Culture of the Rivalry
Let’s step away from numbers for a moment and talk about how these stats feel in the real world.
Ask yourself: why do we care so much about India vs Pakistan matches?
Here’s why:
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Fans treat these games as personal missions. A win means bragging rights that last weeks.
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Friends turn into rivals in living rooms and office groups.
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Every boundary scored by an Indian or Pakistani player feels like extra points in life, not just cricket.
Stats give you wins and losses. They don’t give you tension in the last over or that gulp of breath you take when a star batter edges one behind.
Head-to-Head Stats Table (All Formats)
Here’s a consolidated view of all the head-to-head numbers we just broke down. I put everything in one place so you can see patterns without jumping around.
| Format / Category | Matches Played | India Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draw/Tie/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 59 | 9 | 12 | 38 |
| ODI | 136 | 58 | 73 | 5 |
| T20I | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Overall Int’l | 211 | 80 | 88 | 43 |
| ODI World Cup | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 World Cup | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Champions Trophy | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Asia Cup (All) | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Under-19 | 16 | 13 |
What the Numbers Really Mean
Let’s interpret these stats like real fans, not spreadsheet analysts.
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Pakistan leads in overall wins in traditional formats. That reflects history, scheduling, and early dominance.
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India owns the big tournaments. Especially in World Cups (both ODI and T20), India’s head-to-head record reads like a motivational poster.
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T20Is belong clearly to India. Watching those matches, Pakistan sometimes looks like they forgot to bring a plan.
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Tests remain the most balanced metric, though Pakistan’s slight edge is thanks to big wins in the past.
This disparity across formats keeps fans arguing endlessly. If Pakistan leads overall but India dominates when it matters most, who really has bragging rights? The answer isn’t straightforward that’s why we love this rivalry.
Personal Take: Stats vs Heart
Let me be honest. If I cared only about numbers, I’d tell you Pakistan leads overall. But as a fan who lived those matches, I feel India shines when pressure peaks.
Every time India and Pakistan meet in a major event, the pressure becomes more real than most bilateral series. Players feel it, commentators feel it, crowds feel it. The statistics don’t fully capture that human heat.
Conclusion
The India vs Pakistan head-to-head stats tell many stories. Raw figures show Pakistan’s edge in older formats, while India’s victories in global tournaments make their case strong too. T20I dominance and unbeaten ODI World Cup runs add weight to India’s side of the argument.
But rivalry isn’t just numbers. It’s about moments heartbreaks, celebrations, collapses, comebacks, and records broken under glaring floodlights.
So who leads the rivalry? It depends on how you define “lead.” If you count total wins, Pakistan gets a slight edge. If you weigh performance in big tournaments, India shines brighter. Either way, this rivalry stays legendary, captivating millions with every meeting.
