World Cup 2019: The mother of all battles - India 6, Pakistan 0

MANCHESTER: When it comes to the World Cup, no one contest trumps India vs Pakistan, including the final. How else do you explain over 4,00,000 ticket applicants received by the ICC back in February itself? The mother of all cricketing battles, which was under threat of being boycotted due to tensions either side of the border, is finally happening, for the seventh time in a World Cup, in England after two decades.

While Pakistan lead 73-54 overall in one-day internationals, they haven't beaten India even once in their previous six meetings. Dating back to their first-ever World Cup clash in the year 1992, Pakistan could not get past India even though they lifted the World Cup trophy. And 27 years later, Pakistan continue to search for their first win over India at the biggest cricketing extravaganza.

As we put aside all the cringe-worthy ads, snarky Father's Day remarks and wait for the action to unfold at the Old Trafford cricket stadium in Manchester on what promises to be a bumper Sunday, we look back at the previous six instances when India and Pakistan have faced each other at the World Cup.

1-0

India and Pakistan met for the first time in a World Cup in the 1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup. Imran Khan and Aaqib Javed had tied down India despite some solid batting from Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja. It was left to Kapil Dev and a young Sachin Tendulkar to provide the innings some impetus. They scored 60 in eight overs, with Kapil racing to a 26-ball 35, while Tendulkar helped himself to his first World Cup half-century.

A century from Kohli in India's opening match of the 2015 World Cup gave the team a total of 300/7. Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan stitched a 129-run stand for the second wicket before the pair of Kohli and Raina added another 110. Sohail Khan picked up a five-wicket-haul and his regular blows kept India at least 30 runs short. Pakistan. Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail kept Pakistan alive with a steady 68-run stand for the second wicket but once both were dismissed, it all went downhill for Pakistan. Misbah remained unbeaten till the end but it was yet another slowish innings considering the steep target. Shami emerged India's best bowler on the night picking up 4/35.