5 Indian players you may not know played against Pakistan in World Cups

The strained political relations between India and Pakistan have led to the countries facing each other only in the ICC events. The two teams last played in a bilateral series back in 2012 when Pakistan visited for short ODI and T20I series. However, the fans get to see the arch-rivals clashing only in the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy (now scrapped) and the T20 and 50-over World Cups.

When it comes to the World Cup, the Men in Blue have a clear record against Pakistan. Since 1992, when the two teams met for the first time in a mega event, India haven’t lost even a single game may it be in the 50-over or T20 World Cup. They boast of a 11-0 proud record in the World Cups. Interestingly, Pakistan lead the overall record in the ODIs with 73 wins out of 132 matches with India coming up trumps on 55 occasions.

In the T20Is, India have the clear upper hand as they have won six matches out of 8 and lost only one. Over all these years, we know that the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni among others have been the heroes for the team in the World Cup. But very few are aware of the players who featured for India in this marquee clash.

Here we bring you five Indian players who played against Pakistan in the World Cups:

1. Sadagoppan Ramesh (World Cup 1999)

Sadagoppan Ramesh’s international career last only for a couple of years. He made his debut in 1999 and played his last game for India in September 2001. Rather his ODI career was even shortened and played 24 ODIs from March 1999 to October 1999. And he went on to open for India in the 1999 World Cup played in England.

He was also the part of the high-voltage clash between the arch-rivals played at Old Trafford in Manchester. Ramesh opened the innings along with Sachin Tendulkar in that game after India opted to bat first. The opening duo added 37 runs before Ramesh was castled by Abdul Razzaq. The left-hander mustered 20 runs off 31 deliveries with two fours.

This innings turned out to be his only contribution in the India-Pakistan World Cups. India went on to win that match by 47 runs. As far as Ramesh is concerned, he scored 646 runs in 24 ODIs at an average of 28.08 with 6 half-centuries. In 19 Tests, the southpaw mustered 1367 runs at an average close to 38 with two centuries and 8 fifties.

2. Debasis Mohanty (World Cup 1999)

Debasis Mohanty was not even in the list of probables for the 1999 World Cup. He was picked at the last moment for his skills to move the ball in helpful conditions. And he went on to feature against Pakistan. But unlike Ramesh, Mohanty had already played international cricket for a couple of years and played 45 ODIs for India until 2001.

In the crucial WC game, the medium pace bowler was unlucky not to get a wicket despite bowling exceptionally well. The Orissa cricketer shared the new ball with Javagal Srinath and kept a lid on the run-scoring early on. He bowled to the explosive batsmen like Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi with the field restrictions on. He returned with brilliant figures of 10-2-31-0 in the game and played his part in India’s stunning victory in Manchester.

As far as his career is concerned, Mohanty picked 57 wickets in 45 ODIs at an impeccable average of 29.15. It is baffling to know that he didn’t play further for the country. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it big in the Tests and featured only in 2 matches accounting for only four scalps.

3. Dinesh Mongia (World Cup 2003)

Dinesh Mongia came into the Indian team for his all-round skills. Apart from being a decent middle-order batsman, he was a part-time left-arm spinner. Moreover, Mongia also got the backing of the then Sourav Ganguly and was included in the 2003 World Cup squad as well.

The southpaw also played in the marquee clash between India and Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The game is famously remembered for Sachin Tendulkar slamming Shoaib Akhtar during India’s chase 274-run chase. With the top six batsmen doing the job, Mongia didn’t get to bat in that game. However, he had contributed with the ball early on dismissing Afridi during his three-over spell conceding 19 runs.

As for Mongia, he went on play 57 ODIs scoring 1230 runs at an average of close to 28 and also picked 14 wickets. He was also the part of India’s first T20 International where he batted at three and scored 38 runs off 45 balls.

4. Robin Uthappa (T20 World Cup 2007)

Robin Uthappa has to be one of the unluckiest players not to feature in India jersey in many matches. He was the part of the India squad which won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa and rather had played a crucial role in the tournament with the bat. India and Pakistan clashed twice in the competition and Uthappa played both the thrilling matches which went to the last over.

Both the teams faced each other in the group stage first where Mohammad Asif ran through India’s top-order. He reduced the team to 9/2 and then 36/4 by the end of the seventh over. And if not for Uthappa’s 50-run knock off just 39 balls, the Men in Blue would’ve been bundled out for a low total. He came in to bat at number three and stitched crucial partnerships with MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan which propelled India’s score to 141.

Uthappa was in the thick of the things once again in the final at the Wanderers stadium. But he could only score 8 runs off 11 balls before getting out to Sohail Tanvir. In the field, defending 157, he took a swift catch to send back Mohammad Hafeez in the very first over off RP Singh.

5. Amit Mishra (T20 World Cup 2014)

Amit Mishra was included in the T20 World Cup squad in 2014 as it was being played in Bangladesh. He was the third spinner in the line-up and went on to play all the matches alongside Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Rather he was the second-highest wicket-taker for India with 10 scalps to his name.

Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka hosted the arch-rivals this time as India elected to field first and were successful in restricting the opposition to a low total. Mishra, with his legspin, took two of the most important wickets during his four-over spell.

He sent back Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik who were set and were looking good in the middle overs. He also bowled a maiden in the game which led to the pressure increasing on Pakistan who could only post 130 runs on the board. India chased it down without much fuss losing only three wickets.