What’s more exciting than an ICC men’s T20 World Cup? An encounter between India and Pakistan in a major ICC event, a tie that has always remained high-octane. In the 2021 edition of the world cup, India are clubbed together with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and A2 and B1.

The Men in Blue will open its campaign against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. Still unbeaten against Pakistan in T20 or ODI World Cups, India will be under pressure will keep the record intact come Sunday.

The Dubai encounter will be the first meeting between the two nations in more than two years as they have not played a single match since the 2019 World Cup. So with the stage set, will India be able to pull off a repeat performance? Numbers scream yes.

In the last decade in the T20Is, Pakistan has come a long way and established itself as a dominant team. According to Cricinfo Statsguru (October 1, 2011 to October 1, 2021), Pakistan have played 129 matches. Out of those matches, they won 77 while lost 45 matches; two matches were tied and five of them yielded no results. Pakistan has a win percentage of 59.7.

As for India, they played a total of 115 matches, winning 73 matches and losing 37 matches; two games were drawn and three matches yielded three no results. India has a win percentage of 63.5.

In the inaugural edition of the 2007 World Cup, India had met Pakistan twice, once in the group stage and the other time was in the final. While in the group stages, the match ended in a draw and had to be decided via bowl out, which India did comfortably.

And in the final, Pakistan was done in by a clever MS Dhoni move as India, under Dhoni’s captainship, became the first team to lift the elusive title.

The T20 World Cup is being played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.