India vs. Pakistan —a rivalry only in reams of newsprint Premium

Explore the fading intensity of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, once thrilling, now overshadowed by India's dominance in recent matches.

In what now seems like the distant past, cricket matches between India and Pakistan were gripping affairs, steeped in tension and nerves, and extraordinary quality. There was an array of glittering superstars in both camps; India had the batting, Pakistan a seemingly endless supply of high-class fast bowlers who, to misquote Geoffrey Boycott, could obtain swing with even an orange.

Contests between these two proud nations were exactly that – contests that were no holds barred. Contrary to this age where players don’t even look in each other’s direction, let alone shake hands and exchange pleasantries, Indian and Pakistani stars struck up long-lasting friendships that have stood the test of time. Nothing illustrates the bond formed in those days better than the Shaz and Waz camaraderie – Ravi Shastri and Wasim Akram continue to be great friends whose relationship isn’t based on nationality.

But we digress. Or do we? Even in this competitive era where professionalism has been lent new meaning, it is not as if friendships and relationships don’t exist between players from different countries. Virat Kohli shares an excellent rapport with his brother from another mother, A.B. de Villiers, and with Faf du Plessis, under whom he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru after giving up the captaincy. But when it comes to India and Pakistan, whatever happens on the field is alone what happens. There is nothing that happens off it, and even on the field, apart from the tussle between bat and ball, nothing is being allowed to happen anymore.

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Even a year back, it wasn’t so. While the countries were at loggerheads politically, nothing stopped the players from extending a hand of friendship. Everything changed after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent civilian tourists lost their lives after a dastardly, cowardly terror attack. In the first senior men’s cricketing outing between the nations in Dubai in September, Suryakumar Yadav studiedly refrained from shaking hands with Salman Agha at the T20 Asia Cup, unquestionably following instructions from his bosses, who themselves might have been following instructions from theirs.

That set off a crazy sequence of events that has done no one any credit. Sport isn’t just about turning up on the field of play, getting the job done – one way or the other – and going their separate ways. It is intended to foster bonds and forge goodwill but clearly, neither of that is on India’s agenda, at the very least.