Remember 1992 World Cup (WC) India-Pakistan match- it was an interesting clash between the two arch rivals in which India made 216 thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 55 and bundled out Pakistan for 173- winning the match by 43 runs. This was the first match between these two neighbors in any World Cup- here, we are talking about the fifth WC. Prior to this, India & Pak never played each other in any of the previous four World Cups- Ironical, isn’t it? This WC had a unique format, which was never tried before and has never been tried after this edition- all the competing team (nine in all) had to play each-other and top four teams would have reached the Semi-Finals i.e. there were no groups then and therefore, India and Pakistan eventually faced each other. Interestingly, after this win, India have played Pakistan four times in subsequent World Cups and won all of them. Thus, in a way, this win set the tempo for future triumphs. Is it? I beg to differ.
In those days, Pakistan used to dominate India and this domination began from that (in)famous match of Sharjah in 1986, when Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for six on the last ball of the match. We need to look at the stats to understand how this last ball six affected the psyche of Indians post this match. Prior to this match, India and Pakistan had played 16 matches in which India won 8 matches and Pakistan 7 matches with one ended without a result- pretty evenly matched results. Post this match, India played Pakistan 20 times before the above mentioned World Cup Match and won only 3 match losing 16 matches- most of them at Sharjah Cricket Ground ( 8 losses against 1 win).
Therefore, this win at Sydney Cricket Ground was a sort of aberration when India won, otherwise India would surrender against Pak at the drop of the hat. The most poignant moment of this match is Javed Miandad’s jumping act to mock Kiran More. Indian captain Mohd. Azharuddin was furious at his act and complained to the umpires. Umpires intervened and the game went on but the kind of protest Indians registered just gave the glimpse of “gentlemanly” character Indian team used to exhibit then. Think of it- they didn’t say anything to Miandad; not a single word just some stares. Contrast this with the current bunch of players and imagine what the likes of Kohlis and Ranias would have done in similar scenario- they would have hounded him like a pack of wolves. They would not have let him simply go with a simple stare. I feel their act is more welcome than what Indians did then because sometimes aggression should not only be shown through your game but also through your demeanour, body-language and even words and that is how shackles of intimidation is broken.
Even after win in 1992, stranglehold of intimidation was not broken from Indian Psyche and they kept on losing to Pakistan. It was only in 1996, when Venkatesh Prasad clean bowled Aamir Sohail and celebrated with no holds barred that the nation burst in a war-cry and shouted to Miandad & Co. – your decade of bullying is over; let’s fight on equal terms now. The significance of 1996 wins can be demonstrated by the fact that India and Pak has met 83 times after that out of which India has won 36 times and lost 44 times- a more equitable distribution of wins and losses.