India vs Pakistan cricket matches are no longer the same, the high-octane games between the arch rivals are losing the intensity sending the 'El Classico ' tag into danger!
Many experts and ardent cricket lovers feel that India-Pakistan games in the recent past have become one sided. Barring a couple of incidents -- the 2017 Champions Trophy Final and 2021 T20 World Cup, the men in blue have clearly overpowered the neighboring country.
Nevertheless, the long-standing rivalry between the sides pulls crowds, but for the devoted fans the game between the teams is no longer the same.
Earlier in the 80's and 90's the game between the two sides was a thrill to watch. It was a head-on contest between world-class bowlers and batters. With Pakistan producing high quality pacers including Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and others, India had a strong batting unit that had a long list-led by the great Sachin Tendulkar.
The difference was evident in the Group B clash of the Champions Trophy between 'England and Australia', where a gripping run chase kept the audience glued to the screen. While the 'India vs Pakistan' match, turned out to be a dominant show by the Rohit-led side.
A one-sided contest now: Former England skipper
An India-Pakistan match is always a highly-anticipated event, but former England captain Michael Atherton believes the contest has become "one-sided" and the cricket does not live up to the hype.
"Well, it was completely one-sided," Atherton said on Sky Sports Podcast.
"It looked very predictable from a long way out. An underpowered Pakistan batting line-up, as it was in that first game, actually, against New Zealand. There just seemed to lack a bit of energy and dynamism in the batting."
India and Pakistan only meet in ICC events, and their clashes are often built up as blockbuster encounters.
"There's a bit of an issue for that contest, isn't it? Because it's a highly anticipated contest for all kinds of reasons. Partly, you know, just because of the scarcity value. They only play each other in ICC events on neutral territory for obvious reasons," he said.
"But there's such hype around that fixture. You kind of want the cricket to live up to that hype as well. If you look at the results in the last 10 years, I think they've played each other nine times in ODIs in the last 10 years.
"Pakistan have only won once, and that was in that final in the Champions Trophy at the Oval. So, it's a one-sided contest right now."
Pakistan leads the head-to-head in ODIs, winning 73 and losing 58 in 136 games. Atherton feels Pakistan have lost the edge in the past decade.
Expert Opinion:
Earlier, Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar didn't pull any punches as he blasted his sides "brainless, and clueless" team management following the six-wicket loss to India in the Champions Trophy, saying the side entered the tournament without any "clear direction".
"I am not disappointed at all (by the defeat to India) because I knew what would happen," Akhtar said in a short video on his X account. "You can't select five bowlers? the whole world is playing six bowlers you go with two all-rounders, this is just brainless and clueless management."
"Intent is a another matter, they don't have the skill-set like Rohit, Virat, and Shubman. Neither the players know anything, nor the management. They have just gone to play without any clear direction.
On the other hand, India great Gavaskar opined that the current Pakistan side would find it hard to win even against an India B team, given their poor form.
"I think a B team (from India) certainly (can give Pakistan a run for their money). C team, I am not too sure. But a B team will be very, very hard to beat for Pakistan in their current form," Gavaskar said on 'Sports Today'.
