First Ever Match Between India And Pakistan (Source: @ICC/x.com)
Just like a simple dish can turn unforgettable with the right spices, rivalries bring an extra thrill to cricket. Few rivalries in cricket burn as brightly as India versus Pakistan, where neighboring nations have evolved into the sport’s fiercest competitors over the years.
When India gained independence and Pakistan emerged as a new nation in 1947, the seeds of a legendary rivalry were sown. Their first cricket clash in 1952 brought the tension to the pitch, sparking what would become the fiercest rivalry in the sport. Let’s revisit the first-ever match between India and Pakistan.
1952 Marks The Dawn Of The Legendary India-Pakistan Cricket Rivalry
Entering the cricket arena, Team India played their first-ever Test match in 1932, but Pakistan made their debut in cricket against India in 1952. Back then, few could have imagined that this encounter would spark one of cricket’s greatest rivalries, captivating fans for generations to come.
Despite earning Test-playing nation status in 1932, Team India had to wait for two decades until they registered their first Test victory. In a historic twist, Team India emerged victorious in the Test against Pakistan as the Men in Green had to taste a bitter defeat on their debut match in 1952.
Feroz Shah Kotla Sets The Stage For The First India-Pakistan Cricket Battle
In 1952, India and Pakistan clashed at Feroz Shah Kotla in their historic maiden encounter, opening a legendary chapter in world cricket. After winning the toss, Team India’s captain Lala Amarnath opted to bat first. It was a fiery encounter since the very first delivery, as Khan Mohammad sent Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy back early while putting pressure on the opponent.
Amid a tense situation, Vijay Hazare and Hemu Adhikari stood firm at the crease, forming a resolute wall against Pakistan’s attack, and Pakistan bowler Amir Elahi turned himself into a fierce storm as the other Indian batter struggled in front of his lethal bowling. Standing on that point, both the Indian batters scored half-centuries, but Vijay Hazare walked away on a fierce delivery of Elahi, scoring 76 runs.
Even as Amir Elahi dazzled with a fiery four-wicket haul, Hemu Adhikari held firm, crafting an unbeaten 81 under pressure. Later on, Ghulam Ahmed’s gritty fifty pushed India to put on a challenging total of 372.
Chasing the total, the Pakistani batting lineup faced the heat of India’s lethal bowling. Dismantling the neighbors, Vinoo Mankad turned himself into an unforgettable nightmare, registering an unbelievable spell of 8/52. Pakistan ended their first innings in just 150.
As India gave them follow-on, they failed to fight back. Apart from Imtiaz Ahmed’s 41 and Abdul Kardar’s unbeaten 43, the rest of the lineup remained toothless. On the flip side, Mankad continued his dominance with a remarkable 5-wicket haul in the second innings, followed by a four-wicket haul by Ghulam Ahmed. Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 152, handing India a historic victory by an innings and 70 runs in their very first clash.
From Test Beginnings To Modern Glory, The Rivalry Reaches Its Peak
1952 marked the dawn of the India-Pakistan rivalry, laying the blueprint of the fiercest rivalry in cricket. Starting from the Test, it crossed formats, events, and countries and delivered countless dramas on the cricket field.
Today, any ICC event feels incomplete without the showdown. With bilateral series a thing of the past, fans now eagerly await these epic encounters on the world stage. The next chapter unfolds on September 14, when India and Pakistan lock horns once again at the Asia Cup 2025.
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